The Federal Government says it will soon commence the disbursement of the N30bn revitilisation fund to public universities across the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday after a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to evaluate the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties in December 2020 and the resolutions of the follow up meeting, held on August 2.
He said government was committed to development and standardization of the university system.
On the revitalisation funds for public universities, Ngige said the meeting received an update from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, and was happy that the assignment given to them has been done satisfactorily.
He said NUC and the Federal Ministry of Education did their assignment in terms of getting the universities to come and defend the various allocations given to them based on the needs in the universities.
On the issue of earned allowances, Ngige said N22.172 billion was provided in the 2021 Supplementary Budget for Earned Allowances to all workers in the universities.
Ngige expressed optimism that the payments of N30bn revitilisation fund to the individual universities would commence very soon, as the meeting had set timeline for the payment to begin on or before October 30.
On the issue of University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) system, he said the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will liaise with ASUU and NUC, to work on the system for deployment by the users, as soon as possible.
On shortfalls in payments, he said the meeting urged the IPPIS office to have a template and liaise with vice chancellors and bursars in the universities to hold discussion next week.
