Another Strike Is In The Works Because FG Keeps Victimising Us – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has come out to say that FG has been breaching a no victimisation clause agreed upon during the dialogue that led to the suspension of the strike they had embarked on.

Chairman, ASUU, Professor Ayo Akinwole recently revealed this to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, another strike is presently inevitable because the Federal Government and the Accountant General of the Federation are victimising its members by refusing to pay them salaries running between two to 10 months despite suspending the strike.

He added that as the government is paying outstanding five months salaries for those on nominal role at an agonisingly slow pace, more than one hundred UI academic staff are still being owed salaries ranging between two and ten months.

His words, “While government is paying outstanding five months salaries for those on nominal role at an agonisingly slow pace, over one hundred UI academic staff are being owed salaries ranging between two and ten months.”

”The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘Memorandum of Action ‘ signed in good faith between the Government and the ASUU at the stakeholders’ meeting held on the Tuesday,22nd December,2020″.

“A major common position agreed to (and expected to be respected) by the Government and ASUU was that nobody shall be victimised in any way whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action.”

“The agreement reached on the 22nd December 2020 imposed some obligations on both the Government and ASUU. on the part of ASUU, the Union undertake to go back to the classrooms, laboratories, workshops, workstations etc, to do the best for the students and the country.”

”The Governments, both Federal and State are to sincerely fulfil their own parts of the bargain, a major part which is the no victimisation clause.”

“While ASUU as a union, and her members as individuals in various branches have remained faithful to this agreement by returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the Federal Government, true to type has reneged on its part”.

“Contrary to FGN affirmation of its commitment to pay all withheld salaries of ASUU members who have not enrolled in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system (IPPIS), three months after the suspension of strike, thousands of ASUU members across various branches are still being owed salaries.”

“This government has again reneged on its agreement with ASUU and can no longer be trusted. Since the suspension of the strike, three months ago, none of the issues in contention has been completely attended to.”

“Federal government till date has withheld over 77% of Union dues it ought to remit into the account of ASUU, University of Ibadan branch.”

”This, in the view of the union is a direct attack to cripple the Union, a grand plan of the federal government.”