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FG, ASUU differ on payment platform for lecturers

The meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have met a dead end again, as both parties have been unable to come to an agreement regarding the lecturers’ payment platform.

The FG through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige had offered to pay the salary arrears and the N30bn earned allowances of the university lecturers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform.

However, the ASUU delegation led by its National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi reportedly insisted on the union’s preferred payment platform, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

The meeting which held on Wednesday was adjourned till Monday to enable the union leaders to confer with their members on the issue raised.

Among other things, the government had agreed to pay N40bn, being the pending Earned Academic Allowance of the university teachers overdue since November 2019. Out of the amount, N30bn would be paid on or before November 6, while the remaining N10bn would be spread equally over two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022.

Both parties equally agreed to the planned release of N30b for the revitalisation of the education sector. The government offered to pay N20b as funding for the revitalisation of public universities by January 2021 as well as seek for sources of alternative and additional funding of the university system, among other conclusions.