Months of academic activity have been suspended as a result of the conflict between the Nigerian government and the Academic Staff Union, which has also interfered with the academic schedule of Nigerian students.
The Integrated Personnel and Payroll System is being implemented by the FG with support from Nigerians, nevertheless (IPPIS).
Stakeholders are supporting the government’s decision to implement the IPPIS instead of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) suggested by ASUU because they are concerned about the prolonged suspension of academic activities, particularly after a protracted holiday caused by the covid pandemic.
What the IPPIS is about
The Federal Government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS) system is a centralised payroll platform that aids in the planning and management of the government’s payroll budget and ensures there are no gaps in the payment distribution process.
Since its implementation in April 2007, the platform’s data has been used by the organisation in charge of paying salaries and earnings automatically to employees’ bank accounts together with all applicable deductions, including taxes and insurance.
ASUU developed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) payment platform for the federal government to employ in order to pay the wages of its members.
Nigerians React
@Farouq_Siyi said, “There’s is no justification whatsoever for ASUU to continue fighting off IPPIS. Nowhere does an employee force a payment platform on his employer! For their allowances and wage increment, I’m totally backing them to fight for it. FG must find a way to pay them up!
@jomamit_ said, “One of the problems with us in this country is that no one is clean, and we don’t feel bad about our own dirt. I still blame the government, though, it’s their job to maintain law and order, and show they can be trusted. ASUU should accept the payment system the government is proposing.”
@Ade_Nurayn said, “Some of you are dishonest citizens. We all know ASUU is holding FG to ransom, but you all heap the blame on FG despite ASUU’s padding of its workforce and salary and refusal to join IPPIS bc of its greed. Why should a lecturer work in 5 Universities when we can employ more lecturers?”
@smohkey_ said, “Even if UTAS is 1000% tested, FG said use IPPIS. ASUU is still an employee of the FG. I don’t see why a worker they should dictate how he wants to be paid by his boss. Whatever other issue ASUU is striking for could be valid but not this. Why are they so keen on UTAS?”
@AgentAnagbad said, “Maybe, just maybe if you engage a carpenter to work for you and at the end of the day, he demands you pay him in specific denominations conveyed in a white envelope with a stamp on it, you can appreciate ASUU’s untenable position. You can’t dictate to your employer how you get paid.”
@adagba01 said, “The system may not be perfect, but IPPIS is the thing they got right. One person will be teaching in 4 schools getting paid, yet will teach in some schools only one week/few days to exams. This has to stop so others can get employed in these schools, but no, they want to keep it that way.”
@FinPlanKaluAja1 said, “The issue of IPPIS should be non-negotiable. IPPIS has always exposed ghost workers and should be adopted by every state and local government in Nigeria.”
ASUU had started a 4-week total and comprehensive strike on February 14, 2022, to hammer home their unmet demands on the federal government.
The payment of earned academic allowances, adoption of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) as the preferred payment option rather than the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and payment of promotion arrears are just a few of the demands made by the lecturers.
Others include the rectification of discrepancies in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System and the revision of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement (IPPIS).
Following a previous extension on March 14 due to the federal government’s alleged lack of sincerity, ASUU extended its ongoing strike by another 12 weeks on May 9 to allow the government ample time to adequately resolve all outstanding issues.
On July 19, President Muhammadu Buhari gave Adamu Adamu, the minister of education, the order to present a solution to the problem and submit a follow-up report within two weeks.
To allow the Federal Government more time to address lingering issues in its disagreement with it, ASUU once again prolonged its current strike by another 4 weeks on August 1. Despite this, ASUU remained steadfast in its determination to pursue its demand.