No Going Back On UTAS —ASUU

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Calabar Zone, has insisted it won’t back down on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, as a payment system in place of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) introduced by the Federal Government.

The Zonal Chairman/coordinator of the union, Dr. Aniekan Brown, stated this at a media conference at the University of Calabar on Monday, adding that its strike will not be suspended until the Federal Government accedes to its demands.

At the conference, which was attended by ASUU chairmen from universities in the zone which comprise Abia State University, Akwa Ibom State University, Cross River University of Technology, Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi, University of Uyo and University of Calabar, the union insisted its members won’t return to classes.

According to Brown, “Sometimes, either by deliberate ill-intended machinations, or for want of understanding, ASUU’s struggles are misunderstood. In the light of the above, it considered expedient to engage the public, to bring to the fore ASUU’s stance on the on-going strike action, and the government-induced distraction known as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s illicit commitment, hard-work, determination, and treachery to forcefully migrate staff of Federal Universities to IPPIS. 

“For the records, we consider the IPPIS which is a payment system as uncongenial with the modus operandi of the university system, given the peculiarities of universities. Government has made it a front burner; but we consider it a distraction.

“The university system is peculiar in its modus operandi. The mode of employment, retirement age, sabbatical leave, adjunct engagements, part-time engagements, contract engagements, etc. are concepts that are unique to the university, and obviously alien to IPPIS. The OAGF (Office of the Accountant General of the Federation) has told a lot lies about addressing these peculiarities.”

He said, “Our union has been rejecting the IPPIS since 2013. Government challenged us to produce an alternative. The Union took up the challenge, and has produced one. This is called the University Transparency and Accountability Solution. Presentations have been made to the appreciation of some quarters. The union has been ready for the final stage presentation to NITDA.

“Recall that on March 23, 2020 our union declared an industrial action against the government for paying deaf ears to the following: Revitalization of Public Universities: by today, government is in debt to the tune of N20 billion short of N1.1 trillion.

“Earned Academic Allowances (N40 billion in the immediate run). Kindly note that this figure is as up to 2013. The figures for 2014-2020 are yet to be considered.”

He condemned the proliferation and poor funding of state universities, adding “We insist that Visitors to state universities should stand up to their responsibilities.”

The zonal chairman said Visitation Panels “have not been realised in the last ten years. Yet, this is the very tradition of the university system. Little wonder there is so much of mis-governance in the system. It is now 11 years since our Conditions of Service was reviewed; though it was due for a review in 2012. Sadly, our members have not been paid variously for periods ranging from four to nine months. We are still in the trenches.

“We seek the cooperation and understanding of the good people of Nigeria, and the general public on ASUU’s stance on the afore-stated outstanding issues and the IPPIS. Our members would not return to the classes with empty stomach.”