Why We Oppose IPPIS and GIFMIS Systems - ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has firmly rejected two federal government payment platforms, insisting on the adoption of its own University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

In a recent interview in Abuja, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke criticized the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which currently processes payments for approximately 789,000 workers across various sectors.

He also dismissed the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS), which the government plans to implement starting in November.

Osodeke emphasized that UTAS aligns with legal provisions that grant university governing councils control over financial management. "The law stipulates that the university's finances should be managed by its Governing Council, not the Accountant General's office," he stated.

He highlighted that the governing council is responsible for budget approvals, which are then sent to the President for assent.

The ASUU leader reiterated that universities must have the autonomy to strategize on staff recruitment and salary payments. He pointed out that IPPIS undermines this autonomy and violates Section 24A of the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act 2003.

Osodeke also expressed dissatisfaction with recent federal guidelines regarding the transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS, claiming they do not address ASUU's concerns. "GIFMIS is merely an extension of IPPIS," he argued.

He refuted claims suggesting that ASUU's insistence on UTAS was aimed at protecting lecturers who teach at multiple institutions.

According to Osodeke, existing laws permit lecturers to serve as adjunct or part-time faculty at other universities under specific conditions.

Furthermore, he noted that UTAS is designed to ensure compliance with these regulations by automatically rejecting requests from lecturers exceeding their allowable teaching commitments.