The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions(NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike,Abia State,today, joined other Institutions in a three day nation wide protest,to express their bitterness and displeasure over the IPPIS and the insensitivity of the Federal Government towards their welfare.
Addressing the Members of NASU and SSANU at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike (MOUAU), the Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU in the Institution, Comr Ken Njoku, said the protest was initiated as a result of the Federal Government’s failed attempt to address the issues bordering on their welfare.
According to Comr Njoku, the Federal Government failed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached and signed with the union at the office of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige in Abuja,on the 20th of October 2020.
He stated that some of the issues for which the MoU was entered were, the inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), Non payment of Minimum wage arrears and other earned allowances,as well as the non payment of retirement benefits of outgone members.
The union boss also noted with dismay how Teaching staff in various institutions are usurping Headship of non teaching units,which he stated was totally a violation of Conditions of Service and Establishment Procedure, agitating for it to be corrected, because members of the Non Academic Staff Union are as important as any component in the University.
The MoU further contained the neglect and poor funding of state Universities, the non constitution of visitation panels for universities and the delay in renegotiation of FG/NASU/SSANU 2009 Agreements.
The JAC chairman, said the union is not relenting on their action, as it is ready to push until their demands are met.
Njoku wondered why the Federal Government would fail to address the issues contained on the MoU, saying that the government is simply insensitive to their plight by reneging on the Agreements fully entered.
The Unionist, however,disclosed that the three day protest would run from 8am -4pm daily, adding that within these periods no worker is expected to be seen at their offices, pleading for strict compliance to the protest.
The protest witnessed a huge turnout,with protesters carrying placards with inscriptions that read thus “NASU members are not slaves in Tertiary Institutions, IPPIS is fraudulent and its not a Commercial Bank, Release our Allowances”, among others.
