By Milcah Tanimu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s persistent use of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to pay lecturers’ salaries.

According to Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of ASUU, in a recent interview, despite promises made by the FG to remove tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform, February salaries were still disbursed through IPPIS.

The FG had announced in December 2023 that universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education would be exempted from the IPPIS platform. However, this exemption has yet to be fully realized.

IPPIS, initiated in 2006 to streamline government payroll management, was later extended to universities and colleges. However, it faced staunch opposition from workers, leading to strikes in 2020 and 2021 due to various irregularities associated with the system.

Osodeke highlighted that none of ASUU’s demands had been met, including the payment of salaries withheld during the 2022 national strike and the resolution of issues concerning the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Despite ongoing negotiations, Osodeke emphasized the lack of progress and official communication from the FG, leaving matters at a standstill.

When asked about the possibility of another strike, Osodeke stated that ASUU members would decide, citing the frustration over unfulfilled promises and the recent salary payments through IPPIS.

ASUU intends to communicate its decision through a forthcoming press release, urging the government to honor its commitments and address the concerns raised by the union.