IPPIS: ASUU heaps fresh accusation on FG

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of perpetrating fraud through the implementation of the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The union described the $140million loan, allegedly obtained by the government for the implementation of IPPIS as a “massive fraud”.


The coordinator of ASUU Lagos zone, Prof Olusiji Sowande, made this known on Tuesday while addressing journalists at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu – Ode, Ogun State.
The Union said the government took the $140m loan to procure software and train staff for implementing IPPIS in spite of the ASUU offer to provide a platform through University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).


The ASUU accused government of insincerity in the implementation of IPPIS, insisting that the government had ulterior motive for insisting on the migration of the union members into the System.
The union declared that the new payment platform for employees of the Federal Government was designed to centralise corruption in the country and lecturers would resist it with the last drop of their sweat and blood.


Sowande, who was flanked by ASUU branch Chairmen in the zone and top members, alleged that the IPPIS has now been fraught with corruption, saying several calls to probe corruption in IPPIS office have fallen on deaf ears.
He, however, explained that the recent discrepancies in salary payment of those that subscribed to IPPIS had justified ASUU stance against the new payment platform.
According to him, some professors and vice chancellors received N55,000 and N58,000 as salaries respectively through IPPIS, contrary to what they are usually paid.
The coordinator added that the ASUU’s agitation and resistance of IPPIS have been vindicated following the position of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), withdrawing their support for the IPPIS implementation.


Sowande said, “However, the call for investigation of the massive fraud being perpetrated in IPPIS office has fallen on deaf ears and this call to question the sincerity of government in using IPPIS as an instrument of fighting corruption. Government continued turning of deaf ears and blind eyes to the corruption in IPPIS is to centralise corruption with IPPIS and office of the AGF as the Headquarters.
“In addition, taking a loan of $140m to procure software and train staff for the single purpose of implementing IPPIS is a massive fraud on the part of government whereas same software was freely offered by our union on the platform of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) that will be university – based but which can be accessed by the government from their offices so they can monitor what is happening in the universities.”


On the ongoing warning strike, he said, “Our union will not surrender to blackmail and intimidation from government and will not hesitate to embark on total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action to wrestle the public universities from the clutches of prowling jackals in government. This is the time for Nigerian masses to show understanding and join forces with us in this patriotic and lawful struggle for continued existence and survival of Nigerian public universities.”

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