…Calls on Gov Uzodimma to intervene
By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri have cried out saying they are facing many pressing welfare issues that require immediate attention and intervention of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
They itemized some of those welfare challenges to be: their being promoted without financial benefits, selective salary payment, and non-payment of Arrears of salaries, non-payment of earned academic allowances, non-remittance of union check-off/welfare dues.
Others include: Non-remittance of pension deductions, non-payment of annual increment in salaries, non-implementation of wage increases, inclusion of IMSU in Treasury Single Accounts.
The members of ASUU-IMSU made the call on Tuesday after engaging in a peaceful protest around the school premises while holding placards inscribed, “Our Take Home Cannot Take Us Home, “IPPIS/TSA Is For Personal Pocket”, “Staff Retiring Without Pension And Gratuity”, Some Of Our Workers Are Owed 8,10,12 Months Salaries”, among others.
Addressing newsmen after the protest, the Chairperson of the Association, Comrade Odinakachukwu Ejiogu in a Release signed by him and the Secretary, Comrade Lazarus Chikwendu, averred, “The academic staff members of lmo State University (IMSU) are facing many pressing welfare issues that require the immediate attention and intervention of His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State and Visitor to Imo State University.
“The engagement with the press has become expedient after repeated unsuccessful attempts for formal meeting with the Governor as ASUU-IMSU has previously addressed these welfare issues in letters titled “Urgent Issues of Staff Welfare” and “Isues of Staff Welfare and a Request for an Appointment for a Meeting.”
“Both letters were dated 6th June, 2022 and addressed to the Governor of Imo State and Visitor to Imo State University. Additionally, we have written letters through the Principal Secretary to the Governor and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, in a letter titled “Request for Audience with the Governor” dated 28th May, 2024, suggesting 6th June, 2024, for the proposed meeting, with a provision that the governor could choose a more convenient date if necessary.
“On 5th June, 2024, ASUU-IMSU visited the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Government House, Owerri, to verify if the proposed date for the expected meeting with the Governor was approved. ASUU-IMSU did not see the Chief of Staff. We ASUU-IMSU subsequently dispatched a reminder to our previous letter to no avail until
“The key issues we are calling the attention of the governor to are specified as follows: “Promotion Without Financial Benefits: One of the pressing issues is the phenomenon of “promotion without financial benefits”, which has been so since 2016, as academic staff members have been promoted without corresponding salary adjustments. For instance, from 1999 to 2012, the accumulated staff promotion arrears stood at 200, 824,275.60 (two hundred million, eight hundred and twenty-four thousand, two hundred and seventy-five naira and sixty kobo). From 2013 to 2021, the promotion arrears amounted to N294,744,461.85 (Two hundred and ninety-four million, seven hundred and forty-four thousand, four hundred- and sixty-one-naira, eighty-five kobo). To date the promotions for 2022 to 2023 are outstanding. In addition to this, the process of promotion itself is marred by delays, leaving many academic staff members in prolonged periods of uncertainty, financial strain and professional limbo.
“Selective Salary Payment and Non-Payment of Arrears of Salaries: Following the Imo State government’s reorganization of the procedure for the payment of salaries of public servants in 2020, some of our members had their salaries mutilated by unexplained deductions or payment skipped for several months. In February 2022, ASUU-MSU visited the Imo State Government Data Room to resolve the observed anomalies; however, not all the anomalies have been resolved. To date, about 92 academic staff members of IMSU still have issues bordering on non-payment of their skipped and overdue salary arrears for periods ranging from 1 to 27 months and amputation of salaries.
“Non-Payment of Earned Academic Allowance: Academic staff’ members are yet to receive their Earned Academic Allowance, which are crucial for recognizing their additional efforts and contributions to the university. The Earned Academic Allowances were a product of the FGN- ASUU Agreement of 2009. The computed EAA from July 2009 to December 2013 amounted to AN3,006,66 1,411.00 (Three billion, six million, six hundred sixty-one thousand, four hundred and eleven naira) and for the period 2013/2014 to 2019/2020, the amount to be paid the academic staff as EAA stood at N4,940,073,734.00 (Four billion, nine hundred and forty million, seventy- three thousand naira). The issue of non-payment of EAA has been communicated in a series of letters to the university administration and no action has been taken on the subject matter.
“Non-Remittance of Union Check-Off /Welfare Dues: From February 2020 to September 2021, our deducted check-off dues amounting to N33,563,081.76 have not been remitted to ASUU-IMSU. These unremitted payments to our national bodies continue to constitute financial burden on ASUU-IMSU.
“Non-Payment ofAnnual Increment in Salaries: Academic staff members are entitled to annual increments in salaries irrespective of whether or not they are due for promotion. Since 2020, the payment of annual increments has effectively ceased.
“Non-Implementation of Wage Increases: The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, in a letter dated 14th September, 2023, approved the revision of the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) for academic stafl with effect from Ist January, 2023. However, this wage increase has not been implemented in Imo State University.
“Inclusion in Treasury Single Account (TSA): Integrating the financial and related bureaucratic administration of the university into the civil service structure undermines the university’s autonomy. It is incompatible with the operations of the public university system,’they stated.
They therefore beckoned on the governor to come to their rescue by tackling the challenges, saying that it has collectively created demoralizing environment for the staff, and severely affected their productivity.
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