The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has described the proposed Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System of the Federal Government as a threat to national security.
In very strong terms, Ogunyemi on Monday told the Senate why the university lecturers were against the system.
He described it as a scam, an illegality without constitutional backing.
Ogunyemi, while addressing the leadership of the Senate insisted that the IPPIS as currently structured, was a violation of the university autonomy as provided for in Section 2AA of the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act 2003.
According to him, capturing university lecturers under the system would take away the constitutional powers of the governing councils of the various universities.
Moreover, the ASUU President noted that the IPPIS was not supported by any Act of the National Assembly but simply a Presidential directive.
“The proposed forceful enrolment of staff of universities in the IPPIS will amount to subjecting the universities to the direction and control of Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
READ ALSO: Why We’re Against IPPIS – ASUU
“This is in respect of the payment of staff remuneration, salaries, wages, allowances, etc.
“The OAGF has no constitutional or legal backing to so direct the affairs of universities, the latter being creations of statutes via the Acts establishing the universities.
“This is also the case with the OAGF, with payments made to the staff of the federal universities through IPPIS.
“Neither the constitution nor any Act of the National Assembly confers such powers on the OAGF.
“The OAGF has been very clear about the status of IPPIS, that it is a policy of government, backed by a Presidential directive.
“This statement reinforces the position of ASUU on IPPIS that IPPIS is not backed by law and cannot therefore, be used in whatever guise or circumstance to override laws and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ogunyemi posited that allowing the implementation of IPPIS in the university system would be tantamount to the OAGF committing a grave illegality, which would lead to anarchy within the system.
“Technically speaking, IPPlS is a scam; It creates more problems than it resolves.
“The AGF claims that the goal of IPPIS is to engender transparency, accountability and probity in government expenditure.
“One of the biggest challenges of IPPIS is that it poses great threat to our national security.”
Responding, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said that the National Assembly would work towards resolving the issue.
“I’m meeting with the Minister of Finance to tell us what exactly is to be done.
“We’ll start with you today and then we’ll invite the government’s side so that they can tell us what they are doing,” said.
