Stop foot-dragging on adoption of UTAS as our payment system, ASUU urges FG1 min read

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Friday, called on the Federal Government to stop foot-dragging on the adoption of the University Transparency Accountability Solutions, UTAS, as a reliable payment system for the Union.

ASUU equally said that it is worried over Federal Government’s, FG, delay tactics in releasing funds for the revitalisation of public universities, and the  May 2021 tranche of Earned Academic Allowances, EAA, adding that the Union is warming up to continue its suspended industrial action should FG continue with its present body language.

The Coordinator of Nsukka Zone of ASUU, Comrade Raphael Amokaha, disclosed these issues at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, during a press briefing at the end of the zonal meeting of the Union where it also deliberated on proliferation of universities by state governments without requisite funding power and renegotiation of 2009 agreement with the FG.

Comrade Amokaha, explained that ASUU rejected the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, from inception because of its failure to cater for the peculiarities of the Nigerian University System, and called on FG to adopt UTAS, which he said, has been subjected to series of tests, including demonstration to the “End-Users,” drawn from the bursary and registry units of federal universities and proven to be suitable for Nigerian University System.

He also said “ASUU, therefore, cannot understand the continued delay by government in adopting and deploying UTAS as an alternative to IPPIS which has failed in all ramifications. It is to be noted that this government has advocated for local content in our development efforts.

UTAS is a home grown programme that has been shown to be a viable solution to a Nigerian problem.

There is no rational consideration why government should be foot-dragging instead of adopting and deploying UTAS with excitement that its own academic industry has come up with a cutting-edge solution

Source: Vanguardnge.com