Two members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State are said to have died during the long-drawn industrial strike owing to non-payment of their salaries.
The nationwide strike that commenced in March 2020 was called off by ASUU on December 23, 2020 after the union reached an agreement with the Federal Government.
The lecturers were said to have died due to lack of funds to cater for their health during the strike accompanied by COVID-19 lockdown, Dr. Happiness Uduk, the ASUU Chairman of University of Uyo chapter, has confirmed.
Speaking with Straightnews on Saturday, January 16, Uduk lamented non-payment of salaries to lecturers by the Federal Government spread across various months.
She said there are some lecturers who are being owed since February 2020 till date; others are being owed for six months, four months and three months, attributing this delay to refusal by some lecturers to join IPPIS.
”Initially, the Federal Government fixed December 5, last year to clear backlog of salaries but later shifted it to January 16, this year. We only hope the government would fulfil its pledge in defraying the backlog of salaries to alleviate hardships facing the lecturers and their families,’’ she posited.
The ASUU boss said though the government paid some lecturers in August 2020, many are still being owed because they do not want to migrate to Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
According to her, ASUU is still against IPPIS that removes names of lecturers who attain 60 from the payroll, but supports the implementation of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), that permits lecturers who retire at 70.
Despite the difficult conditions facing them, she pleaded with lecturers to be patient with government in an effort to clear their entitlements in addition to meeting other grievances.
For the students, Uduk urged them to comply with pharmaceutical measures by wearing their facemask, washing hands and using sanitizers to avoid contacting the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Senate of the University of Uyo has approved the commencement of academic activities for the 2019/2020 session for students of the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (SCEPS).
A release signed by Mr. AniediAbasi D. Udofia, the university’s Registrar, said all students of the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (SCEPS) are expected to resume and complete their online registration for the 1st Semester 2019/2020 Session from Monday, January 18, 2021;
”Continuation of 1st Semester 2019/2020 Session lectures for the Students of the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (SCEPS) shall be for three weeks from Monday, January 25 to Saturday, February 13, 2021.
”Revision exercises for the 1st Semester 2019/2020 Session Examinations for all students shall commence from Monday, February 15 to Saturday, February 20, 2021.
”Ist Semester 2019/2020 Session Examinations for all Students in the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (SCEPS) will be for three weeks from Monday, February 22 to Saturday, March 13, 2021.
”A Two-week break for the 1st Semester 2019/2020 Session, for all students of the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (SCEPS), University of Uyo, will be observed from Monday, March 15 to Saturday, March 27, 2021,’’ the release stated.
