ASUU to proceed on indefinite strike

The Lagos Zone coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, says the Union may proceed on an indefinite industrial action, should Government insist on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Prof. Sowande disclosed this while addressing reporters at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, on Tuesday. Sowande berated the Federal Government for taking a loan of $140m to procure the software.

Sowande said: “Our union will not surrender to blackmail and intimidation from government and will not hesitate to embark on total, comprehensive and an indefinite industrial action to wrestle public universities from the clutches of prowling jackals in government.

“This is the time for the masses to show understanding and join forces with us in this patriotic and lawful struggle for the continued existence and survival of public universities.

“However, the call for investigation of the massive fraud being perpetrated in IPPIS office has fallen on deaf ears and this call to question the sincerity of government in using the IPPIS as an instrument of fighting corruption. Government’s continued turning of a deaf ear and turning of a blind eye to the corruption in the IPPIS is to centralise corruption with the IPPIS and the office of the AGF as headquarters.

“In addition, taking a loan of $140m to procure software and train staff for the single purpose of implementing the IPPIS is a massive fraud on the part of government, whereas the same software was freely offered by our union on the platform of University Transparency and Accountability Solution that will be university-based, but which can be accessed by the government from their offices so they can monitor what is happening in the universities.”