x

Strike: Gbajabiamila moves to Consolidate ASUU, FG Agreement on Payment Platform

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has reiterated the determination of the House to ensure the implementation of the latest agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to eliminate the possibility of another industrial action by the union. 

This emerged on Monday during a reconciliation meeting convened by Speaker Gbajabiamila between the leadership of ASUU and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) where the Speaker emphasized that everything must be done to prevent lecturers from resuming the suspended strike action. 

While thanking the ASUU leadership and the striking lecturers for returning to class based on trust from the intervention of the House, Gbajabiamila said the purpose of the days meeting was to strike an understanding between ASUU and the AGF on the implementation of the agreement to accommodate the peculiarities of lecturers into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), being a critical aspect of the agreement that led to the call-off of the 8-month strike by ASUU.

He said: “I thank you (ASUU) for the shifting base, as we asked you to, I thank you for the compromises that you made. We are here as an institution to make sure that whatever we had agreed is implemented as best as possible, if not to the letter. 

“The main issue for discussion today, which was one of the major areas of conflict, was the issue of the payment platform. Whether or not, or how to deal with the issue of UTAS as opposed to IPPIS. 

“If you recollect on that issue, we did agree that we will marry both, whilst IPPIS will remain the platform, that the government will bring in the aspects and the areas under UTAS that are specific to the universities and assimilate those areas into IPPIS, I believe that was what was agreed by both sides when we had our last two meetings.”

“We want to make sure that the box is ticked, and that it is not just an agreement on paper or that we said it for the purposes of moving towards the cancellation of the strike.”

Responding to queries from the Speaker, the AGF, Okolieaboh Sylva disclosed that his office was ready to work with the delegation from ASUU to implement the agreement. 

He also revealed that it would likely take three months to clear the critical payment issues regarding the accommodation of the UTAS peculiarities into IPPIS. 

On his part, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said ASUU is ready to be part of the payment system accommodation process while aligning with the set timeline for its completion.

The Speaker urged the ASUU leadership to have faith in the intervention and inclusion of the leadership of the House in the implementation of the new agreement with the government. 

Gbajabiamila assured that the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education would be involved in the process leading to the implementation of the agreement.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalistAs...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

JUST IN: Tinubu Approves ‘Nigeria-First’ Procurement Policy to Boost Local Industry

President Bola Tinubu has approved a sweeping new policy...

EFCC: VeryDarkMan Arrested Over Multiple Petitions, To Face Charges Soon

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed...

B/Haram: Gov Zulum Resettles 6,000 Families from Dikwa, Mafa

…To Upgrade Skill Center at Maiduguri Correctional Facility…Closedown all...

Ibas Urges Military to Develop Practical Solutions to Tackle Insecurity

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.),...

FCTA To Vaccinate l1,116,677 Children in 2025 Routine Immunization Campaign

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuThe Federal Capital Territory Administration ,FCTA, has...

Trent Alexander-Arnold to Join Real Madrid After Liverpool Exit – Report

Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly set to join...

Man Shares Encounter With Osinachi’s Husband in Kuje Prison

A Nigerian man has shared details of his brief...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img