The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns over the Federal Government’s reported deactivation of universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), citing inconsistencies in the process.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, criticized the alleged decision, questioning why universities would still need to send salary data to IPPIS for verification if they are supposedly removed.
He argued that this approach could undermine university autonomy, adding that the union prefers its proposed University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as an alternative to IPPIS.
Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academia (CONUA) has demanded the immediate release of over three months’ worth of withheld salaries. CONUA claims its members did not participate in ASUU’s strike, making the government’s action unjust and contrary to a National Industrial Court ruling that recognized CONUA as an independent union.
National President Dr. Niyi Sunmonu appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the issue, stressing that withholding their salaries contravenes Nigeria’s labor laws and global best practices.
ASUU’s stance on IPPIS and CONUA’s demand for withheld salaries highlight ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s education sector, as the government’s labor policies and union relations remain contentious. Both unions await further dialogue with the government for possible resolutions.
