Strike: Again, FG, ASUU disagree on payment platform 

The meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities deadlocked again on Wednesday,  following the disagreement over the payment platform that would be used in disbursing the salary arrears and the N30 billion Earned Allowance of the university lecturers.

The FG team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had offered to pay the salary arrears and the N30 billion Earned Allowances of the university lecturers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform pending the roll-out of ASUU’s preferred platform, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

But the ASUU delegation led by its National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, reportedly insisted that the university lecturer would not enrol on the government salary platform.

The spokesman, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Charles Akpan, explained that the meeting adjourned till Monday to enable the union leaders to get across to their members on the mode of payment.

The parley is expected to reconvene on Monday to decide on the platform for the disbursement of the funds pledged by the FG.

Among other things,  the government had agreed to pay N40 billion, being the pending Earned Academic Allowance of the university teachers overdue since November 2019.

Out of the amount, N30 billion would be paid on or before  November 6, while the remaining N10 billion would be spread equally over two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022.

The two parties equally agreed to the planned release of N30 billion for the revitalisation of the education sector.

The government offered to pay N20 billion as funding for the revitalization of public universities, by January 2021, as well as, seek sources of alternative and additional funding for the university system, among other conclusions.