We can’t afford N110bn revitalisation fund—Ngige.


ABUJA- THE meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the poor funding of Universities and the controversy surrounding the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, payment platform, yesterday ended without any resolution.

This is as the Federal Government at the meeting which held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja, said it cannot afford the N110 billion demanded by the ASUU for funding of revitalisation of universities.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told journalists that the government cannot meet the demand of ASUU of revitalisation because of the damaging effects of COVID-19 on the economy.

Senator Ngige disclosed that the Federal Government has offered the union N20 billion for revitalisation and N30 billion for Earned Academic Allowances, making it N50 billion all together.

The minister said the government side made all these offers to show its commitment towards the resolution of the prolonged strike of the union.

According to him, “There are three issues. revitalization fund where government offered ASUU N20 billion as a sign of good faith based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they entered into in 2013 as a result of the renegotiation they had with government in 2009. This present government is still committed to it. That is why we are giving them offers of some fund,” Ngige said.

“This government is not against revitalization but this government says that because of dire economic situation and COVID-19, we cannot really pay the N110 billion which they are demanding for revitalization.

“We offered N20 billion as revitalization fund. On Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), the government offered N30 billion to all the unions in the universities, making it N50 billion all together.

“ASUU is saying that the N30 billion should be for lecturers alone, irrespective of the fact that there are three other unions. So there is a little problem there. We don’t have any money to offer apart from this N30 billion.

“Again, another cardinal issue is the University Transperancy and Accountability Solution (UTAS) versus IPPIS. Today ASUU submitted their document on UTAS for onward submission to National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). As you know last week, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy had approved that NITDA gets their system (UTAS) and subject it to integrity test. This test should be conducted without fear or favour and as early as possible. So today they have submitted the document for onward transmission to NITDA.”

Ngige said the transition period and how to disburse the Earned Academic Allowances and other entitlements remained unresolved as ASUU wanted an exemption from IPPIS whereas the government side headed by the Accountant General of the Federation insisted on IPPIS, being the only government approved payment platform.

He said, “So that is where were are for now. So we are all going back to our principals and they will receive via me the irreducible minimum of what federal government has to offer.

The government side will meet on Friday and after that they will communicate ASUU and in communicating them, if there is a need for a meeting, a date will be fixed for it.

Doradorwa:
Why can't they afford it.... Is it government money?... The money belongs to every citizen of Nigeria...See the way Ngige talk am like say the money in question is family inheritance... nah wa oo

sinkhole:
I'm really very sick now though I expected this!

Doradorwa:
Cheer up my fellow comarde... Las las our bitterleaf go sweet inside pot. At the bolded... I don comot mind for the whole thing since 3 weeks ago

Doradorwa:
Cheer up my fellow comarde... Las las our bitterleaf go sweet inside pot. At the bolded... I don comot mind for the whole thing since 3 weeks ago

Doradorwa:
Why can't they afford it.... Is it government money?... The money belongs to every citizen of Nigeria...See the way Ngige talk am like say the money in question is family inheritance... nah wa oo.... I just they see We can not, We offered them, We don't have any money,We,We,We... Abeg who are the We the honorable minister of labour is referring too... Nah so the constitution fraudulently talk say"We the people of Nigeria....We the people of Nigeria are suffering....

Karlifate:
They cannot afford the N110 billion demanded by the ASUU for funding of revitalisation of universities?

Well, when the head is NOT correct, the other parts of the body will also share in its pain.

Ikillbrokehoes:
U comot Ur mind, yet u still follow every ASUU threads? interesting

Slimdan360:
let state schools at least pull out na,how can u be on strike because somebody's employer refuses to pay him,na wa o

Dreamliner787:


I feel like committing suicide dear

quolahpoh:
I think this is old news.. not for today Wednesday 4th November 2020 lol

Slimdan360:
let state schools at least pull out na,how can u be on strike because somebody's employer refuses to pay him,na wa o

Vicdgreat556:
Thanks Assu,I trust u guys won't accept that penny d useless FG wanna give....we are not complaining ehn,if it worth closing down the sch till 2022,so as to allow this bunch of illiterate see the important of funding education, we will all wait ehn....
At least let's still make more money..

I said before, it's not too late to start learning a skill oo

Honduras01:
[s][/s]

learn skill crew

Vicdgreat556:


That's how if you graduate you will still wait for FG.. and wail and wail... waiter...