…As CONUA rejects FG’s IPPIS
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that it is not shaken by the Federal government’s registration of two new trade unions for academic staff in the university system.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this while reacting to the registration of the two new unions – Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
“That does not in any way affect us. We are a disciplined and focused union and we know what we are doing and what we are after. Let them register as many unions as they like. That is inconsequential as far as we are concerned. We are not also in any way threatened. The sky is big enough for all the birds to fly.
“We know our members, we know our strength and we also know what our vision and mission are. Our members are not saboteurs or bootlickers . Our struggle is for a better educational system in the country. If the system is good, all of us will benefit and it is not only ASUU members’ children and wards that are going to benefit from improved funding and the provision of better facilities in our institutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, CONUA has faulted the Federal government on its planned inclusion of universities in the implementation of its Integrated Payroll Payment Information System (IPPIS), saying it will erode the little autonomy the universities currently have.
That formed part of the resolutions passed at the Congress of CONUA in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State.
OAU is one of the five universities that formed CONUA after breaking away ASUU.
CONUA is asking the Federal government to consider the peculiarities of the university system and engage in extensive dialogue with the various stakeholders including CONUA.