IPPIS: ASUU reacts as Buhari orders payment of withheld salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reacted to the order of President Muhammadu Buhari that withheld salaries of lecturers in federal universities be paid.

The President had initially ordered the stoppage of February and March 2020 salaries over the lecturers’ refusal to register in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

National President of ASUU, Prof. Abiodun Ogunyemi, while reacting to the payment of withheld salaries on Wednesday, said the payment will not force the lecturers to resume work or call off the strike embarked on.

According to him, the payment was a good gesture, adding that it shows that the federal government was ready to embrace peace and enter into a meaningful dialogue.

He said: “Now, we can discuss without an atmosphere of intimidation. This will lead to a meaningful dialogue. The ongoing industrial strike action by the union is still on. Our strike is not just about the IPPIS.

“If they had not paid at this time, with what everyone is going through, it would have meant a declaration of war. The discussion will start when they pay. They have even attached a condition to the payment.”

The ASUU leader also condemned the Federal Government for instructing Vice-Chancellors to pay lecturers with their Bank Verification Number (BVN).

“Our members weren’t paid with BVN in the past. Why the sudden change? They should go back to the old system which they have always used to pay,” he said.