Published March 15, 2021
Wale Oyewale, Ibadan
The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Sunday blamed the Federal Government , as well as the Accountant General of the Federation , over what it called the victimisation of its members .
It said the Federal Government had refused to pay its members salaries despite the ‘no victimisation clause ’ of the suspended strike .
According to ASUU, while its members are back to their duty posts to work , the harsh economy being experienced due to unpaid salaries and non -refund of deducted check-off dues will affect productivity.
The Chairman of ASUU , University of Ibadan , Prof . Ayo Akinwole, said the Federal Government failed to remit the deductions it made to the account of the union .
The union warned that if pushed to the limit , “ withdrawal of work in the nearest future may be inevitable. ”
Akinwole said while government was paying outstanding five months salaries for those on nominal role at an agonisingly slow pace , over 100 UI academic staff members were being owed salaries for between two to 10 months .
He said those newly employed in February 2020 had not received money with their families and dependants suffering over their rejection of enrolment on the IPPIS .
The ASUU chief said, “ The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘ Memorandum of Action’ signed in good faith between the government and ASUU at the stakeholders ’ meeting held on the Tuesday , 22 nd 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. ”
He said while ASUU had remain faithful to the agreement by returning to classes and performing their respective duties , the Federal Government reneged on its part .
He alleged that “ Officials of the OAGF kept adducing flimsy untenable reasons for the perpetual non – payment of salaries, demanding loads of paperwork and documents both from the union and the bursary unit of the various universities , as well as the university administration .
“ The requested documents have consistently been provided on a monthly basis , yet the salaries remain unpaid . In the University of Ibadan , March 10 , 2021 , about 67 ASUU members that are on regular nominal payroll have their salaries ranging from two to 10 months still unpaid as of March 10 , 2020 . Over 80 ASUU-UI members in the faculty of veterinary medicine have their medical allowances of over eight months still unpaid .