The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that the Federal Government continues to use the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for paying lecturers’ salaries.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of ASUU, expressed dissatisfaction in an interview, stating that despite the government’s promise to remove tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform, the February salary was still processed through IPPIS.
This comes after the FG’s announcement in December 2023, claiming the exemption of tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, from the IPPIS platform.
The IPPIS, unveiled in 2006, is a government initiative aimed at streamlining payroll for government ministries, departments, and agencies.
ASUU’s disclosure underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the management of labor relations and the implementation of government policies. The union has called on the FG to honor its agreements and ensure that lecturers’ salaries are paid through appropriate channels in line with the exemption announcement. Failure to do so not only undermines the trust between the government and the union but also risks exacerbating tensions and prolonging the impasse.
The persistence of IPPIS in paying lecturers’ salaries raises broader questions about the effectiveness of government policies and the challenges of policy implementation in Nigeria. It highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement, consultation, and consensus-building in the formulation and implementation of policies that affect critical sectors such as education.
It was later extended to universities and colleges but was vehemently rejected by the workers who embarked on a protracted strike in 2020, and 2021.
They complained of several irregularities associated with IPPIS.
Osodeke added that none of the union’s demands had been fulfilled.
Speaking on whether ASUU would embark on a strike to agitate their demands, Osodeke said, “Our member will decide, that is the reason we have been going on strike, even for salary review, yet, nothing has been done. Our February salary was paid with IPPIS, so nothing has been done or implemented. The government should do the needful and implement all the agreements they had with us.”
Osodeke also said that ASUU would soon make known its decision through a press release.
Moving forward, both the government and ASUU must demonstrate a genuine commitment to resolving their differences through constructive dialogue and mutual respect. This includes addressing the underlying issues that have fueled the dispute over IPPIS and working together to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system for the benefit of students, lecturers, and the nation as a whole.
ASUU’s disclosure that the FG continues to use IPPIS for paying lecturers’ salaries despite the exemption announcement underscores the complexity of labor relations and policy implementation in Nigeria. It highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and dialogue in addressing contentious issues and finding sustainable solutions that promote the interests of all stakeholders. Only through genuine engagement and collaboration can the government and ASUU overcome their differences and build a stronger, more resilient higher education sector for the future.
