The two-week warning strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been declared illegal by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
The university staff body embarked on the strike due to the alleged imposition of the Integrated personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), proliferation, and inadequate funding by state universities, among other relevant issues.
Dr. Ngige explaining after the Federal Executive Meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, explained that he was shocked to have read on Monday, and he saw people coming out of the university that lecturers are on strike.
The Minister insisted no previous notice of the strike was given to them by ASUU, and that makes the strike illegal. They said it’s a warning strike, but it simply means withdrawing from a service you’re paid for, he maintained.
Dr. Ngige went further by saying that the effects on the university systems are not encouraging, and another question of payment of salaries during the strike period will also arise.
Speaking further, he said, “The staffs that will manage the IPPISS in different universities are the staff of the universities and not different people from Abuja or anywhere.”
“Now, if you don’t work and withdraw your services, do you want to be paid? Is it not corruption?”
