ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Calabar zone had said the N250,000 assessment fee for promotion to Professorship as an act of criminality and exploitation.
The Calabar Zone of the ASUU which comprises of the University of Calabar, Cross River state, University of Uyo Akwa Ibom state, Cross River state University of Technology, Calabar, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Abia State University and Ebonyi State University.
Addressing newsmen in Uyo, Dr Aniekan Brown , the Akwa Ibom State, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Calabar zone,said such assessment is not found within the confines of the laws establishing the Nigerian universities.
He said, “There is no place that reads that a lecturer should pay for his assessment. How can paid staff who have invested a lot of money in research and publishing and when the time for assessment for promotion comes, they will be asked to pay a whooping N250,000.
“ASUU views that as a case of criminality because it’s not within the confines of the law. Secondly, what do you mean I pay such huge sum and I don’t get favorable assessment. Please note that some of our colleagues who stand by the truth and refused to pay, their promotions are stagnated.”
Reacting to the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System platform by the Accountant General of the Federation, the senior lecturer said it would be a case of historical irresponsibility for the Union to accept what is not good for its members.
He said, “It will be difficult for them to say that IPPIS stands for transparency. IPPIS cannot read and understand the peculiarities of Nigerian Universities system. That is why we have salaries fluctuations.
“Our union has always come against this IPPIS legally it goes against University autonomy and it failed to understand the peculiarities of Nigeria University system. IPPIS has no room for payment of salary promotion arrears.”