Dr Christian Opata

By Hilary Akalugwu

Dr Christian Opata, a chieftain of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the union’s rejection of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information Management System (IPPIS) has nothing to do with its current strike.

Opata, who is the Chairman of ASUU, University of Nigeria, Nsukka chapter, said this on Monday while briefing newsmen on the protracted nationwide action.

He said the briefing was to correct the “misinformation” in a national daily, where it was alleged that the union embarked on its action because of IPPIS.

According to him, ASUU went on strike because the Federal Government failed to honour the 2009 agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it entered with ASUU.

“ASUU didn’t go on strike because of a misunderstanding with the government on IPPIS as a platform for payment of salary.

“IPPIS issue started in 2018, before then, ASUU has been calling on the government to honour the 2009 agreement and various MoUs it entered with government.

“In the 2009 agreement and MoUs, the government agreed, among other things, to release the money to revitalise the decaying infrastructure in public universities and set up visitation panels to know the condition of the universities,” Opata said.

So, in his view, it was mischievous for anybody to accuse ASUU of insensitivity over the plight of students and parents when the government was guilty of reneging on its 2009 agreement and MoUs.

Meanwhile, Opata said the ongoing strike could have been averted, “if government honoured and implemented its 2009 agreement and MoUs with ASUU.

NAN