From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Academic staff members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, have protested what they describe as the management’s insensitivity to their welfare.
They lamented that their members face challenges such as promotions without financial benefits, selective salary payments, non-payment of salary arrears, non-payment of earned academic allowances, and non-remittance of union check-off/welfare dues.
They also raised concerns about the non-remittance of pension deductions, non-payment of annual salary increments, non-implementation of wage increases, and IMSU’s inclusion in the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) system.
The union disclosed that some members are owed between eight and twelve months’ salary arrears.
In a statement jointly signed on Tuesday by the Chairperson of the association, Dr Odinakachukwu Ejiogu, and Secretary, Comrade Lazarus Chikwendu, respectively, after a peaceful protest, they said: “The academic staff members of Imo 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 key issues we are calling to the attention of the governor are specified as follows:
“Promotion Without Financial Benefits: One of the pressing issues is the phenomenon of ‘promotion without financial benefits,’ which has persisted 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 N200,824,275.60 (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 promotion process itself is marred by delays, leaving many academic staff members in prolonged periods of uncertainty, financial strain, and professional limbo.
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“Selective Salary Payment and Non-Payment of Arrears of Salaries: Following the Imo State Government’s reorganisation of salary payments for public servants in 2020, some of our members had their salaries mutilated by unexplained deductions or skipped payments for several months. In February 2022, ASUU-IMSU 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 is crucial for recognising 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 N3,006,661,411.00 (Three billion, six million, six hundred sixty-one thousand, four hundred and eleven naira), and for the period 2013/2014 to 2019/2020, the EAA amount payable to academic staff stood at N4,940,073,734.00 (Four billion, nine hundred and forty million, seventy-three thousand naira). The issue of EAA non-payment has been communicated in a series of letters to the university administration, but no action has been taken.
“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 a financial burden on ASUU-IMSU.
“Non-Payment of Annual Increment in Salaries: Academic staff members are entitled to annual salary increments, 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 14 September 2023, approved the revision of the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) for academic staff with effect from 1 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 implored the governor to come to their rescue by addressing the challenges, saying the issues have collectively created a demoralising environment for staff and severely affected their productivity.