University Teachers Accuse FG Of Non-Remittance Of Union Dues


University lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have accused the federal government of Nigeria of non-remittance of five months due of the union to the union’s purse.

ASUU said the federal government deducted check-off dues on behalf of the union and refused to remit same to the union. The withheld check-off dues which has not been remitted to the union’s purse, according to ASUU, is between February and June, 2020.


ASUU chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, disclosed this to newsmen. Akinwole warned that there was an evil conspiracy among the ruling elite to wipe out public university education, which provides education to over ninety per cent of Nigerian students in order to elevate private universities, which are owned by themselves and their collaborators.

He said that the union has been on strike for over six months to draw the attention of the government to the implications of criminal negligence of not funding public universities in the light of rising insecurity and other social problems.

Akinwole, while speaking further, declared that the plan by the government to use salary stoppage to punish varsity lecturers for being concerned with the parlous state of affairs in the nations’ tertiary education, has failed as members are resolved to ensure that government becomes responsive and responsible.

He maintained that while the union is ready to discuss outstanding issues on the implementation of the February 2019 MOA the FG signed with ASUU and other conditions of service with government, federal government has not been forthcoming but has rather resorted to embarking on propaganda against the union.

Akinwole also denied the claim that the union would call off its strike as propagated by Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, adding that while the lecturers are ready to work, it will not be done until and unless government fully attends to all her demands, including immediate implementation.

He said: “As of today, ASUU members are been owed three months salary arrears. In some universities like MOAU and UNIMAID, our members have not received salary for up to six (6) months.

“Federal government, through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, have criminally withheld five months (February-June, 202 check-off deducted from our members’ salaries without remittance to the union.

“FG has forcefully enlisted our members on the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme and has consistently been illegally deducting money for this from our members’ salaries.

“Our ongoing total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action would continue, if this propaganda and lies against ASUU by appointees and representatives of the federal government like the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, persists.”

While ASUU laments non-payment of salaries, the breakaway faction of the union, Congress of University Academics (CONUA), said members’ salaries had been paid up to date and are ready to resume if all necessary COVID-19 safety guidelines were put in place.



This came as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Monday, begins a 14-day warning strike over government’s failure to implement agreements reached with members.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had last Friday, directed tertiary institutions to resume on October 12, with a caveat that each school would determine its own opening schedule.

But Ogunyemi insisted that members of the union, who had been on strike since March, would not resume work until their demands were met.

He stated that government had failed to put in place the minimum COVID-19 safety requirements across public schools, wondering how students and lecturers would be able to maintain physical distancing considering the state of lecture rooms and hostels in those institutions…

The ASUU chief said the country was in dire need of research and development, and the only way to actualise it would be to invest in the sector.

Ogunyemi described the IPPIS scheme as a fraud, which ASUU would resist. He said an alternative payment platform developed by the union, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) was ready and had been tested at the Ministry of Education, wondering why the Accountant General would withhold salaries of ASUU members.

National Coordinator, Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr Niyi Sunmonu, said although their salaries were being paid as and when due, the union members would resume once coronavirus safety guidelines are met in all the institutions.

Sunmonu recalled that government, in its publication of July 13, listed certain conditions of COVID-19 protocols that should be put in place in the institutions, saying so far nothing has been done along this line.

Sunmonu said once government plays its role, CONUA would have no justification not to work.

Meanwhile, SSANU’s public relations officer, Abdulsobbur Salaam said the union has commenced a 14-day warning strike in protest against some anomalies in the system.

He said the strike was premised on the inconsistencies of the IPPIS in payment of salaries and non-payment of Earned Allowances to members.

He identified other issues as non-payment of national minimum wage and retirement benefits to members; delay in renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU agreements, as well as non-payment of benefits to retired members.

“This warning strike is a prelude to a full-blown total and indefinite industrial action if our grievances are not properly addressed,” he warned.

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