The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Benin Zone, on Thursday, said the union is alarmed that the presidential directive on the removal of lecturers from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System is being frustrated.

The government on December 13, 2023, exempted the tertiary institutions, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and monotechnics, from the use of the IPPIS for the payment of their staff salaries and allowances.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, revealed this while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Mamman said the new directive took immediate effect.

However, ASUU said despite the directive, the January 2024 salaries of federal universities were paid through “the so-called new IPPS”.

The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Benin Zone, Monday Igbafe, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, Edo State described the development as a direct negation of the presidential directive.

He said, “it is alarming that the presidential directive on the removal of university lecturers is not being carried out by relevant authorities. Surprisingly, the January salary was paid through this medium which is wrong.

“The union believes that it would amount to deception taken too far if the government fails to revert to quarterly releases of varsity funds to enable them to design and implement their payment plans.”

Igbafe bemoaned what he described as university lecturers’ stagnation for 15 years through “impoverished pay”, adding, “the Federal Government had been footdragging on the need to conclude and sign the renegotiated 2009 agreement which commenced in 2017.”

Igbafe noted that ASUU’s renegotiation with Nimi Briggs’ committee was done within six months, adding that the then Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, halted the signing and implementation of the agreement.

He also berated the government of Ondo, and Edo States for underfunding states-owned universities.

He noted that their posture is worrisome and anti-tertiary education.

While accusing the Edo State Government of not paying the salaries of many staff for 25 months and unpaid arrears of check-off dues in Ambrose Ali University, Igbafe alleged that the Ondo State Government is insensitive to adequate funding of Adekunle Ajasin and Olusegun Agagu Universities. (The PUNCH)

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