* Hope rises for resumption of academic activities in public universities
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has disclosed that the Federal Government has agreed to pay an additional N15 billion as revitalisation fund of public universities.
The minister also said that government acquiesced to exempt the academics from the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) in favour of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) which is reportedly favoured by the union.
Dr Ngige disclosed these in a briefing after a meeting with members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU), led by its president, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi.
It was further revealed in the briefing that the federal government would pay the salary arrears owed the lecturers from February to June via the old payment system – Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System.
According to Ngige, the additional N15 billion would make it a total of N35 billion committed as revitalisation funds by the government following the payment of N20 billion earlier.
The Minister said the meeting was a fruitful one, adding that the government has decided to shift grounds on the lingering issues.
Ngige revealed further that the federal government and the union have reached agreement on how to pay the over seven months withheld salaries of the lecturers.
Recall that ASUU had during the week, shifted ground from its initial demands in the interests of Nigerian students who have spent over seven months at home.
ASUU said it reviewed its initial insistence that the government should release one tranche of N220 billion revitalisation fund, and is instead demanding 50% of one tranche (N110 billion).
The union said that its latest demand is just for the government to show commitment to revitalisation of the public universities in the country.