Ortom urges ASUU to end strike, enroll for IPPIS

Governor Samuel Ortom has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to end its prolonged strike by registering for the Federal Government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

He spoke today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi while addressing the leadership of the National Union of Benue State Students, NUBESS, who paid him a solidarity visit.

He said the IPPIS policy was designed to introduce sanity into the accounting system which should be commended, stressing that he was always ready to applaud friendly programmes of the Federal Government as well as criticize the harsh ones.

The Governor also told the students that the N50 million he had earlier approved for payment of bursary allowances had been released to the Scholarship Board and directed his Chief of Staff to liaise with the Education Commissioner to ensure immediate payment.

Governor Ortom lamented the long stay of students at home partly owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the strike, pointing out that it would be in the interest of all for ASUU to end the industrial action.

The Governor also commended the students and the entire Benue youths for remaining peaceful and law abiding since the beginning of the End SARS and End ASUU strike protests, stressing that they had demonstrated maturity and understanding.

Governor Ortom frowned at the hasty manner in which the Federal Government responded to the protests, and particularly the way the Nigerian Police were treated in the country, saying the force needed holistic reformation in terms of funding, training and equipment.

National President of NUBESS, Comrade Tiv Joshua Lubem, commended the Governor for his giant strides in education, even as he called on the Governor to appeal to ASUU to suspend the ongoing strike.