ASUU Strike: FG Takes a Bow on IPPIS, Offers Additional Allowance

After seven months of strike and numerous meetings, the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) finally met in the middle to put an end to the ongoing ASUU strike and reopen government-owned tertiary institutions.

In a meeting held on Friday, the federal government agreed to increase earned allowance (EA), revitalisation fund and exempt the union members from the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige gave a breakdown of the additional allowance, he said the Accountant General of the Federation has offered to release N40 billion “or in the alternative, N35 billion to be shared by all the registered trade unions in the universities after providing necessary evidence of having earned the allowance

“The FG reiterated that her offer of N40 billion or N35 billion, whichever is accepted by ASUU was for all the universities’ unions. ASUU had proposed that N40 billion be paid immediately for all unions,”  he said.

He explained that the money will address the issue of earned allowances and revitalisation of universities.

Ngige further said that the initial sum will be allotted to earned allowance (EA) and the balance of N25 billion or N30 billion will be allotted for the revitalization of universities.

He also said all vice-chancellors are expected to submit details of the ‘EAA/EA’ to the National Universities Commission (NUC ) “on or before November 30”.

The federal government also agreed to pay lecturers’ outstanding salaries through the old payment platform.

“We are also reviewing how the lecturers will be paid on the old platform (Government Integrated Financial Management Information System) until UTAS (which the lecturers are proposing) is ready for usage,” Ngige added.

However, ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said ”ASUU will take the new offer to its members.”

“We will give the government our response by next week after discussing with our members,” he explained.