ASUU Vows to Protect Nigerian Public Universities from Government Actions

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has firmly stated its commitment to defending Nigeria’s university system from what it perceives as detrimental actions by both federal and state governments. This declaration was made during a protest led by Professor Ayo Akinwole, ASUU Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter, against the harsh working conditions faced by lecturers.

Akinwole stressed that ASUU has a historic duty to safeguard university education in Nigeria and ensure the continuity of knowledge production for future generations. He highlighted issues such as fraudulent deductions from lecturers’ salaries meant for unions and cooperative societies, which have not been remitted since 2020 due to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

“Members of the Union subscribe to unions, cooperatives, and other societies within their respective universities, where they pay monthly check-off dues, deductions, contributions, etc. In accordance with labor laws and industrial best practices, these third-party deductions are deducted directly from their salaries and should be remitted to the beneficiary unions and societies. Due to the challenges with IPPIS, these dues have been deducted by IPPIS operators since February 2020, yet many of these deductions have not been remitted. This is not only sabotage but also fraudulent,” Akinwole stated.

He also criticized the transient nature of government policies that threaten the integrity of the university system, urging for continuous intellectual resistance to such actions.

Adding to this, Babatunde Lawal, ASUU Chairman of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, called on the government to prioritize funding for tertiary education. He reiterated ASUU’s rejection of the IPPIS, citing its violation of university autonomy and the Acts establishing universities, alongside its notorious fraudulent practices that have caused undue hardship for academics.

“IPPIS violates university autonomy and the Acts establishing universities. In addition to this illegality, IPPIS is notorious for its fraudulent practices that impose undue hardship on Nigerian academics and disrupt university operations in payroll management. ASUU continues to reject IPPIS. We are concerned that more than four months after the government directed federal universities and other tertiary institutions to exit the discredited payment platform, our members’ salaries are still arbitrarily withheld. Moreover, third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, pension deductions, and union check-off dues) remain unreleased. The platform, under the guise of ‘New IPPIS,’ continues to be used contrary to the Federal Executive Council’s directive,” Lawal emphasized.

ASUU remains steadfast in its demands for proper funding and the respect of university autonomy to ensure the sustainability and quality of higher education in Nigeria.