President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the payment of February and March salaries to the Striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, who announced the President’s directive, said the lecturers will be paid once Vice Chancellors update their varsities’ Bank Verification Numbers, BVN.
The February and March salaries were pending for failing to enroll for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.
The Lecturers began an indefinite strike on March 23rd to protest the imposition of the IPPIS on the University system and the failure of the Federal Government to keep its pacts with the union.
The President has also directed that the Minister of Finance Budget and Planning, the Accountant-General of the Federation effect the payments immediately by all means to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus period on the lecturers and members of their family.
On his part, ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi explained that the issues the union wanted sorted out had been in place long before coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria.
