Strike Action: FG, ASUU Reach An Agreement On The Implementation Of MOA

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, noted that both parties were satisfied with the implementation stages of what he described as "work in progress, adding that some of the items in the MOA were nearly done 100 percent within the timeline.

He also mentioned that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was directed to expedite action on the integrity test on the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) which if successful, would eliminate the challenges posed by the peculiarities of the university system to the current payment platform.

According to Ngige, the federal government has paid N30 billion as the University Revitalisation Fund as contained in the MOA since January. However, the money is still lodged with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pending the conclusion of the audit report of the implementation committee on the use of previous funds disbursement to universities by the Ministry of Education and the National University Commission (NUC).

The minister noted that the monies would be paid to successful universities based on the evaluation report of the committee while those with shortcomings would be made to make up before accessing the fund.

He added that apart from the N40 billion earned allowance which the Federal Government has already paid, the Budget Office of the Federation showed evidence that N22 billion earned allowances for the year 2021 were already captured in the 2021 supplementary budget of the federation, and will soon be accessed.

"The report has been turned in, deliberated upon and both the education ministry and the NUC have promised to write to the Accountant-General of the Federation next week for the release of the money to the NEEDS Special Account for onward disbursement to universities shortly," he said.

"On the proliferation of State universities, a bill has been sent to the National Assembly by the NUC to strengthen its arms in terms of de-listing universities where funding and other parameters are inadequate. This effort was commended as all the parties agreed that mushrooming and proliferation of state universities, some of which mock the ideals of an ivory tower, should stop.

"The inconsistencies in the IPPIS payment were also discussed. There was good interaction and documents were exchanged between IPPIS and ASUU. ASUU is to go back to its members so that we can have a proper update on the extent of the inconsistencies in payment.

"We expressed our displeasure that these things are happening - amputation of salaries, not-too-clear, foggy things happening over peoples monthly emoluments. So we have asked IPPIS and ASUU to work together over this."

The minister said evidence was presented that promotion arrears have been paid to some universities while the Budget Office of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation were asked to liaise with ASUU to sort out the rest.

He stated that the standing committee on the matter has been expanded to include National Income Salaries and Wages Commission.

"A situation where a university professor is paid N107,000 out of mistake or over deduction is unacceptable," Ngige declared.

On his part, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, noted that the union was fairly satisfied with the outcome and promised that ASUU would reach out to its members.