President Bola Tinubu has called on university staff unions in Nigeria to opt for negotiations and maintain peace amidst their plans for strikes.
Addressing the ongoing disputes, Tinubu appealed for constructive engagement between the government and the unions during the 39th convocation ceremony at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), have been demanding withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and full implementation of the 2009 agreement.
Represented by Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, Tinubu emphasised his administration’s dedication to uninterrupted academic sessions.
He reassured the unions of the government’s ongoing efforts to fulfil their agreements, including paying withheld salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Tinubu acknowledged the unions’ concerns over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and ordered the immediate removal of university staff from the IPPIS system.
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