The Academic Staff Union of Universities has given a reason why it has not called off the ongoing strike which has lasted for over six months.
ASUU through it’s President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi stated that it was waiting for the government to conduct an integrity test on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution through the National Information Technology Development Agency.
The UTAS is the payment platform created by ASUU in place of government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
“The integrity test will be handled by NITDA, it is a government that will facilitate it because NITDA is a government, agency and unless you get clearance from the government that test cannot be conducted.”
While speaking on whether the government had accepted UTAS, Ogunyemi said, “We are still talking, we have given them the position of our members, we are thinking we should be able to hold a meeting this week if they have not changed plans. The meeting for Monday was postponed. In principle, they have accepted UTAS and told us to go for the test, and on our part, we have started the process. We had presented UTAS at three levels, starting with the Ministry of Education, Senate President and members of his team, officials of Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, where all other stakeholders were present, including NITDA, all stakeholders have witnessed the presentation and the next stage of integrity test is what we are moving in to. If the government facilitates it, it is not something that should drag for too long at all. We don’t foresee any problem with UTAS; it also depends on how early the government makes it possible for the integrity test to be conducted.”
Ogunyemi also explained that ASUU was ready to resume academic activities if the government was ready to play its part.
“Our members are ready to resume work as early as the government is ready to play its part. I’m sure you are not suggesting that our members should resume on empty stomach..”
Culled from Punch
