ASUU UI, LAUTECH Demand Return of Funds Deducted by FG During Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapters at the University of Ibadan (UI) and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) have demanded the return of funds deducted by the Federal Government during a recent strike.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The University of Ibadan (UI) and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) chapters of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have issued a strong demand to the Federal Government for the return of union funds deducted from their salaries during the recent strike action.
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The union chairmen, Professor Ayo Akinwole (UI) and Dr. Babatunde Lawal (LAUTECH), have urged both the Federal and state governments to prioritize funding for tertiary education in Nigeria.
Addressing the press on Thursday, following a protest against the Federal Government's delayed response to ASUU's demands, the union leaders emphasized the legitimacy of their demands. They argued that improving the conditions of learning is crucial for the advancement of science, technology, and national development.
Dr. Lawal called for the immediate release of third-party deductions, which include cooperative contributions, pension deductions, and union check-off dues made through the IPPIS platform, asserting that prompt action is essential.
"IPPIS is a violation of university autonomy and the Acts establishing the Universities. Its notorious nature as a fraudulent platform is causing unprecedented hardship for Nigerian academics and corruptly distorting university operations in terms of payroll management," said Dr. Lawal. He criticized the continued use of IPPIS despite government directives to exit the discredited payment platform, noting that member salaries and third-party deductions are still whimsically withheld.
Professor Akinwole of UI echoed these sentiments, describing the deduction of union and cooperative society funds without remittance since 2020 as fraudulent. He highlighted the precarious working conditions of lecturers and called for the immediate resolution of these issues to improve the academic environment.
The union's demands include the release of withheld salaries, third-party deductions, and adherence to the Federal Executive Council’s directive to exit IPPIS, replacing it with a more transparent and university-friendly payment system.
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This demand from ASUU follows ongoing concerns about the funding and operational autonomy of Nigerian universities, with the union consistently rejecting IPPIS and advocating for better working conditions and funding for education.
