We seek payment of our seven and half months unpaid salary, ' ASUU

CURSORY :The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, talks about his hopes and expectations from the Federal government in 2024.

In most universities, the year 2023 was real hard for the vice chancellors, students, lecturers, non academic staff and parents, and was all due to newly Implemented government policies.

Also, the introduction of students loan by the government in June led to an increase in compulsory fees for students across universities in the country.

According to some university’s vice chancellors, the schools were not properly funded by the government and they were left with no other option, so they had to increase fees so they can successfully meet the demand and needs of the university and also meet global standards.

Students of various campuses reacted to the sudden increment in fees by taking to the streets to protest, and the government couldn’t provide any help to the situation, as they told the students that, the student-loan was the only available solution to the hike in price.

Left with no other option, most of the Universities had to make payments easier for the students by providing the option of installment payment of fees and by helping indigent students to get scholarships, study work, etc

In December, the government announced the removal of tertiary institutions from IPPIS, which lead the users to complain about the bad experience they had with the platform.

They complained about their salaries being reduced, or they not being paid at all, also IPPIS not being able to capture all the workers for accurate salary and so on.They were happy to have been removed from IPPIS, as it brought them great relief.

The ASUU chairman Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke talked about 2024 saying;

“The government should increase the budgetary allocation to education, a little more will make an impact.

“All the issues of funding university appropriation of salaries are issues the minister should look into. He should meet with us and resolve them once and for all in the interest of our children.

”We want the government to sign our agreements and if there are issues, they should call us to negotiate. We seek payment of our seven and half month’s unpaid salary,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the national president, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities added that any solution the government introduces should be one suggested by the union, he said the union should be involved in the transitioning process.