The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed disagreement with the Federal Government over the reported removal of federal tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). This development follows an online report indicating that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed the deactivation of IPPIS for these institutions.
Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General, stated that it was “only natural” to shut down the IPPIS platform for federal tertiary institutions, given the government’s directive. However, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke criticized this interpretation, arguing that universities are still required to submit salary data to IPPIS for verification before payment.
Osodeke stated, “It is not acceptable to us as a union… This means that over 300 institutions will send their salary data to IPPIS for vetting. If they want to remove us from IPPIS, why should it still verify our salaries?” He further highlighted concerns that the IPPIS system does not adequately address payment for arrears of promotion or study leave allowances, and he warned that it could lead to the phasing out of university lecturers over 60 years old.
In response to ongoing issues with IPPIS, ASUU previously proposed an alternative called the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, which the Federal Government did not adopt.
Other university unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, reported being unaware of the recent developments regarding IPPIS.
In light of these tensions, Osodeke revealed that ASUU is set to meet with the renegotiation team established by the Federal Government. He stated, “There’s nothing new to report… We will inform you whether we will go on strike or not. Until after that meeting, we cannot determine if the outcome will be positive.”
Additionally, the Congress of University Academia (CONUA) called for the immediate release of over three months of withheld salaries for its members, citing the unjust punishment of members who did not participate in strikes led by ASUU. CONUA’s National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, emphasized that withholding salaries contravenes a recent National Industrial Court ruling affirming CONUA’s independence as a union.
Sunmonu pointed out that “the government’s action… goes against the July 25, 2023 judgment,” urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the matter promptly.
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