The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi has explained why ASUU is insisting on University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) rather than the government Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) .
Ogunyemi also said the UTAS should be seen as the demonstration of the capability of Nigerian scholars and researchers.
He spoke in Abuja on Thursday during the presentation of UTAS to Vice-Chancellors, Registrars and Bursars by ASUU.
The lecturers had earlier presented UTAS to Minister of Education and senior management staff of the Ministry, the Senate President and the leadership of Senate andd the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).
Ogunyemi said the union sees UTAS as the contribution of Nigerian scholars and researchers to technology development.
He said, “Our Union sees UTAS as a contribution to technology innovation and development process in Nigeria. ASUU recognises that our country should not be left behind in the global quest for knowledge economy with technology as the driver. It is a reality of today’s world that all human activities, including university operations and governance, are dependent on technology deployment.
“One way of demonstrating the capability of Nigerian scholars and researchers to contribute meaningfully to this global challenge was the development of UTAS.”
He also added that ASUU “has always argued that our universities should be made the hubs for technology innovation, if Nigeria is to become a major player in the 21st century knowledge economy. We believe R&D activities can only be meaningful when our universities become the real “development partners” instead of foreign agencies whose interests are rarely in sync with the interests and values of Nigeria.
“Therefore, the much avowed “local content” agenda must translate into government-university-industry collaboration, otherwise called the triple helix, for Nigeria to experience genuine and sustainable development in all aspects of its national life. ”
He also revealed that “All FGN-ASUU negotiated agreements since 1992 are infused with elements of the triple helix which, unfortunately, were never activated. UTAS has prospects for redirecting attention to the relevance of these and other neglected products of ASUU’s engagements with the Nigerian governments.”
