Fresh Trouble In Varisites As ASUU, FG Clash

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may soon clash over a presidential directive on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

The President of ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, in an interview restated the union’s opposition to the IPPIS.

He said, “Our members are saying that they stand by their position. Our position is that IPPIS is against the principle of autonomy as established by law and to that extent, our members do not see any reason to enrol in the IPPIS.

“For now, nobody has called us for any negotiation. Our members will determine what we will do at the end of the day. I cannot tell this is what we will do or what we will not do. For now, we have not thought about the next line of action. But our members have not changed their position. If they do, we will let everyone know.”

Despite ASUU’s opposition, there were indications that the Federal Government would not extend  the October 31 given by President Muhammadu Buhari for all civil servants to enrol in the scheme.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris has indicated the commitment of the Federal Government to go on with the implementation of the policy saying ASUU  cannot dictate to the government on how to be paid.

Recall that Buhari  during the 2020 budget presentation at the National Assembly on October 8, ordered the stoppage of payment of salaries of civil servants, who failed to register for the IPPIS by the end of October which about a week from today.

The new directive according to President is part of efforts to manage personnel cost to fight corruption and save billions of naira.

He had said, “I have directed the stoppage of the salary of any Federal Government civil servant that is not captured on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform by the end of October 2019.”

The IPPIS scheme was introduced in 2007 as one of the Federal Government’s initiatives designed to centralise payroll and payment systems.

It is also to facilitate convenient staff remuneration with minimal wastage, aid manpower training and budgeting.

Furthermore, the system would facilitate planning and monitoring monthly payment of staff emoluments against what was provided for in the budget.

Determined to frustrate government decision on the patrol system, ASUU is considering a legal action on the matter.

It was gathered that at its meeting on October 17, the union listed a court action as part of options to frustrate the implementation of the IPPIS in universities.

A source said before the court action, ASUU planned to write a letter to the President, through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and demand audience with Buhari.

The source stated, “We also  plan to write a letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and also have audience with them to brief them correctly on the situation.

“We will consider a court action seeking an injunction restraining the Federal Government from violating the law (on university autonomy)  by imposing  the IPPIS on our members.

“There will be national and zonal visitations to all our branches, sensitising and mobilising our members for an action in case our salaries are stopped.”

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