The Academic Staff Union of Universities has thretened industrial disharmony in Nigerian universities over unrelease outstanding promotion arrears owed to its members by Federal Government.
This request comes in the wake of a National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
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 also 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 backlog of promotion arrears to our members in the interest of industrial peace and harmony”.
“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. ASUU rejects all illegal appointments sponsored by the IPPIS and its agents in Nigerian public universities.”
ASUU had late last year called off an eight-month strike after a series of negotiations with the Federal Government.
The lecturers’ demands include release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).