The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained its reasons for rejecting the federal government’s two payment platforms, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS).
Instead, the union has advocated for its own alternative, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which it claims aligns better with the statutory autonomy of Nigerian universities.
Speaking on Sunday, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke emphasized that the union’s stance is rooted in the need to uphold the independence of the nation’s tertiary institutions, as provided by law.
He stated that the rejection of IPPIS and GIFMIS stems from ASUU’s belief that these government-managed platforms undermine the autonomy of universities and violate the legal framework governing the management of their finances.
“ASUU’s position is that the finances of the university should be managed by the Governing Council.
“That’s what the law says. It does not say by the Accountant General’s office,” Osodeke declared.
He further elaborated on the legal procedures surrounding university finances, explaining that the Governing Council, not the federal government, is responsible for managing the institution’s budget.
According to him, each year, the Governing Council directs the Vice-Chancellor to present the university’s budget before the National Assembly for approval.
Once approved, the budget, which includes salaries, overhead, and other financial allocations, is sent to the President for assent, after which it becomes law.
“That money should be released to the Governing Council to pay its staff members.
“That is the autonomy of the university we are talking about, as stipulated in the law,” Osodeke stressed.
ASUU has long argued that the IPPIS, which is managed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, centralizes the payment system for public servants and undermines the independent governance of universities.
The union maintains that IPPIS fails to capture the unique working conditions of academic staff, particularly with regards to sabbaticals, external engagements, and consultancies that are standard practices in university systems globally.
Additionally, ASUU contends that IPPIS has led to numerous payroll issues, including delayed salaries and wrongful deductions, which have created friction between university staff and the government.
The alternative solution proposed by ASUU, UTAS, was developed by Nigerian university scholars as a more tailored platform to meet the needs of the academic environment.
According to ASUU, UTAS allows for greater transparency and accountability within the university system while preserving institutional autonomy.
The standoff between ASUU and the federal government over payment platforms has been a longstanding issue, with the union repeatedly insisting that the imposition of IPPIS and GIFMIS is a breach of the independence universities were promised.
The debate has also contributed to strikes in the past, disrupting academic activities and heightening tensions between the government and the university community.
Osodeke reaffirmed ASUU’s commitment to defending the autonomy of Nigerian universities, reiterating that only a platform designed with the university system’s specific financial and operational needs in mind can guarantee a smooth and lawful management of funds.
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