The Federal Government again on Thursday strike at the Academic Staff Union of Universities for opposing the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System of the Federal Government, saying no government agency must resist it.
ASUU has opposed an order by President Muhammadu Buhari, who at the 2020 budget presentation in the National Assembly on October 8, directed that all public sector workers to register for the IPPIS to save cost and fight corruption.
But the lecturers on Monday opposed the Federal Government, saying the IPPIS negated the law on university autonomy.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, countered ASUU, saying its position was an endorsement of corruption.
The IPPIS, which was introduced in 2007, is aimed at centralising payroll and payment systems, facilitating convenient staff remuneration with minimal wastage as well as aiding manpower training and budgeting.
You can’t be staff members of all Universities, minister tells lecturers
On Thursday, the Finance Minister, Ahmed, blamed ASUU, saying no administration must oppose the IPPIS.
She stated, “The protection from the IPPIS is lost as far as i am concerned in light of the fact that there is no office of government that must oppose it. It must be treated with most extreme significance. The universities and some medical institutions have some peculiarities.
“For example, a medicinal official in the public service can counsel in various emergency clinics, yet he should have one primary point of employment.
“A lecturer, based on the endorsement given by the minister, is also allowed to lecture in more than one universities. That, be that as it may, doesn’t imply that he should feature in all the institutions as a staff member.
“Best case scenario, there would be exceptional allowances that would be given to them for those extra-work. The remittances should, be that as it may, not be incorporated into the finance.
“We have been discussing with them and we are arranging peculiar allowances for them too. This is to make sure that the extra-work they do, according to the limits that is allowed, is provided for in the payroll.
“They have understood now that their concerns would be addressed and they have started working with us. As we speak, the Accountant General staff are on the field trying to capture the last batch of the staff into the IPPIS.”
The Minister said the IPPIS had been extremely beneficial because the Federal Government had been able to save up to about N250bn from the exercise.
