Release our promotion arrears or else… – ASUU threatens FG

The union also raised alarm over concerns of illegal appointments of some staff sponsored by the IPPIS and its agents in Nigerian Universities.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on another course of industrial action if the Federal Government fails to release its members’ promotional arrears.

This was said in a statement released by the union following the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the University of Maiduguri.

In the statement, which was released on Thursday, August 24, 2023, ASUU condemned the employment racketeering alleged to be perpetrated through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Despite several efforts by the union’s members to raise alarm concerning the issue to the government, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has failed to respond.

The statement reads: “NEC noted with serious concern that ASUU members are currently owed several months of promotion arrears arising from distortions traceable to the forceful enrollment of academics on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information platform.

“NEC observed that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has failed to address the issue despite several efforts by the union and university administrations.

“Consequently, ASUU calls on the OAGF to ensure the immediate release of the backlog of promotion arrears to our members in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

“NEC was disturbed by reports of massive employment racketeering perpetuated by operators of the discredited IPPIS, including scandalous revelations at the recent sittings of House of Representatives’ Probe Panel on IPPIS. NEC observed that the unsavoury trend has eroded university employment tradition in violation of the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003, and Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions of individual universities.”