ASUU accuses govt of owing N5 billion check-off dues, cooperative deductions

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of non-remittance of union check-off dues and cooperative deductions totalling over N5billion.

ASUU whose National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held last week in Abuja set up committee to advise it on the request by university administrators for Tax Identification Number (TIN) from union branches and non-remittance of check-off dues and cooperative deductions.

At an interaction in Ibadan recently, Chairman ASUU University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole said the action of the Federal Government was capable of causing threat to live, industrial harmony and peace by imposing multiple taxation on already taxed workers.

According to Omole, over N300m of check-off dues and cooperative money of University of Ibadan academic staff are currently trapped making it difficult for those in need to access welfare support.

He said unions could be asked to pay tax by Federal Inland Revenue Service, as they are not registered as a business entity warning that the union may be poised for another showdown with the federal government if the issue is not attended to expeditiously.

Omole hinted that the NEC of ASUU has resolved to write Ministers of Labour and Employment and his Education counterpart on the requirement of TIN for union dues and deductions is an anti-labour policy which portends danger for industrial harmony.

Omole who noted that President Muhammadu Bukhara-led administration was insensitive to the yearnings of workers noted that the policy is capable of killing university workers faster than HIV/AIDS as people are already planning on how to use their savings during the festive season and for the payment of children tuition fees in the new year.