The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed its approval of the federal government’s decision to remove universities and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) payment platform.
This move comes after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announced the exemption on Wednesday, marking a significant victory for ASUU, which has long criticized the IPPIS platform for its shortcomings.
“If that is correct, it is a good step in the right direction,” stated ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke. “We commend the administration for that. That’s what we’re talking about.”
Osodeke believes this development will pave the way for universities to regain their lost glory, attributing some of their decline to the IPPIS system. He urged the government to address other outstanding issues, including:
- Resolving all remaining concerns raised by ASUU to create a university system free from incessant strike actions.
- Addressing the punishments imposed on ASUU members who advocated for necessary changes.
Osodeke emphasized the importance of taking further action beyond the IPPIS exemption. “While correcting those issues,” he said, “the government should also correct the issue of our members who were punished for asking for the correct things.”
He acknowledged this as a positive step and commended the government for listening to ASUU’s concerns after three years. However, he stressed that the IPPIS issue represents just one facet of a larger problem.
“Although that’s not the only issue, there are a lot of issues,” Osodeke added. “If the government has done this, they should also do other things so that we can have a flawless system where there will be no strike.”
ASUU’s cautious optimism signals a potential turning point in its relationship with the government. While the IPPIS removal is a significant concession, further dialogue and action are necessary to ensure a stable and thriving university system in Nigeria.
