TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinator of the Indonesian Higher Education, Science, and Technology Lecturers Alliance (Adaksi), Anggun Gunawan, stated that his group is prepared to file a legal lawsuit if the performance allowance (tukin) for previous periods cannot be backpaid.

According to Anggun, backpay or budgeting for the following year is feasible for the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) to fulfill the rights of lecturers with civil servant (ASN) status.

"Therefore, our legal team is ready to file a lawsuit with the State Administrative Court (PTUN) regarding the 2020–2024 Tukin backpay if it is not budgeted," Anggun said on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

He added that beyond legal action, the ongoing uncertainty over full Tukin payments could lead to more demonstrations by ASN lecturers.  

Anggun stressed that Adaksi’s response, especially regarding future protests, hinges on how Kemendiktisaintek handles the payment issue.  

"If this uncertainty persists, protests will be unavoidable, as our frustration has reached its limit," he stated.  

He also urged President Prabowo Subianto to uphold his commitment to fairness for ASN lecturers, particularly by ensuring full Tukin payments for past periods.

"We hope the President includes a clause on Tukin backpay in the upcoming Presidential Regulation," Anggun stated.

Yesterday, during a working meeting with the House of Representatives' Education Commission, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliantoro said his ministry wpolould prioritize paying ASN lecturers' performance allowances for this year.

However, Brian declined to comment on how the ministry plans to resolve the unpaid Tukin for the 2020–2024 period.

"For now, let's focus on this year's Tukin. I want to ensure this (Tukin) gets disbursed," Brian said.

Kemendiktisaintek Secretary General Togar Mangihut Simatupang reiterated that backpaying Tukin from 2020 to 2024 remains impossible.

Togar explained that during that period, the government never allocated a budget for lecturers' Tukin, did not follow proper procedures, and had already closed the financial books.

As a result, he stated that nothing could be done regarding the 2020–2024 Tukin payments. If forced, he warned, such payments could violate regulations.

Adaksi Chairperson Fatimah argued that paying Tukin is not optional but an obligation that Kemendiktisaintek must fulfill. Therefore, she said, there is no justification for limiting Tukin payments to certain periods.

"The failure to allocate funds previously can be corrected in the following year through backpay," Fatimah said.

She pointed out that a similar backpay case had occurred with lecturers under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

At that time, the Ministry of Religious Affairs provided backpay for lecturers under its jurisdiction over three years, from 2015 to 2018.

"Thus, there should be no further excuses from Kemendiktisaintek," Fatimah concluded.

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