By Abigail Philip David
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns following reports that the Federal Government removed tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). According to an online report on Monday, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed that IPPIS was deactivated for federal tertiary institutions, with the OAGF’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, explaining that the shutdown aligned with a government directive.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, however, challenged this interpretation, calling it a “misuse of words” and arguing that, under current guidelines, universities are still required to submit salaries for IPPIS verification before payments. Osodeke said, “If IPPIS is verifying our salaries, then we are effectively still on the platform. Over 300 institutions must send their salary data to IPPIS for vetting, which complicates the payment process.”
ASUU has long opposed IPPIS, arguing that it does not cater to the unique employment structure in universities, such as provisions for promotion arrears, study leave, and retirement age for professors. Instead, ASUU developed an alternative, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which has yet to receive government approval.
Other unions, like the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, said they had no information on the IPPIS development.
ASUU will soon meet with the government’s renegotiation team to discuss ongoing issues, including the 2009 agreement. Osodeke noted, “This meeting could determine if we consider industrial action; we’re hoping for positive discussions.”
**CONUA Demands Withheld Salaries**
The Congress of University Academia (CONUA) has demanded the release of over three months of withheld salaries, noting that its members were not part of an ASUU strike. In a statement signed by CONUA National President Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, the union highlighted that the Federal Government’s action violated a National Industrial Court ruling on July 25, 2023, which recognized CONUA as an independent union.
Sunmonu urged President Bola Tinubu to address the withheld salaries, arguing that punishing CONUA members alongside ASUU contravenes Section 43 (1b) of the Trade Disputes Act, which protects workers’ wages in cases of a “lock-out.” He described the situation as “unjust” and called for immediate payment to prevent further disruption to the country’s university system.
