Gabriel Dike

President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the payment of withheld February and March salaries of some Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members is generating ripples over conditions attached.

ASUU members nationwide are on strike to press home the non implementation of 2009 signed agreement, other Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) issue and renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.

Buhari on Tuesday approved the payment of February and March salaries to ASUU members in federal universities not enrolled on the IPPIS.

Less than 24 hours after, some branches of the union said their members were asked to fill the IPPIS form and provide their Bank Verification Number (BVN) before the February and March salaries will be credited to their account.

According to some union leaders, vice-chancellors were directed to revalidate the BVN of lecturers which they view as an attempt to enroll them on the IPPIS.

A circular to ASUU Universitity of Lagos members said while it welcome the development, it should be received with cautious optimism . The circular signed by the branch chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, explained that information from some branches indicated that the payment is conditioned upon the filling of IPPIS form and submission of BVN numbers. He said the national leadership of the union has directed that no member should submit their  BVN nor fill the IPPIS form.

“Our union’s opposition to the obnoxious and retrogressive IPPIS enrollment for which we have been vindicated still stands. While thanking our members for being resolute and steadfast in the struggle for a better public university system in Nigeria, please be rest assured that sooner than later all our outstanding salaries would be paid without any encumbrance,” Ashiru stated.

 

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono and Director of Corporate Communications, National Universities Commission (NUC), Malam Ibrahim Yakasai, did not respond to calls and WhatsApp message sent to their phone lines. But the Public Relations Officer of the Accountant General of Federation office, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, said he was neither aware of the conditions nor if the two months withheld salaries have been released.