In the wake of resistance that greeted the Presidential directive on the stoppage of salaries for institutions and government agencies not on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The Federal Government again on Thursday, 24th October 2919 revealed that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must not resist the directive as its meant for the good of civil servants.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who stated this at the budget defense secession organized by the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja, described ASUU’s opposition as misplaced.
She stated that the resistance to the IPPIS is misplaced as far as I am concerned because there is no agency of government that must resist it.
It must be treated with the utmost importance.
The Universities and some medical institutions have some peculiarities.
She added that, for instance, a medical officer in the public service can consult in different hospitals, but he should still have one primary point of employment.
Whereas, a lecturer, based on the approval given by the minister, is also allowed to lecture in more than one University.
That, however, does not mean that he should feature in all the institutions as a staff member.
The Minister clarified further that at best, there would be special allowances that would be due to them for that extra work.
The allowances should, however, not be included in the payroll.
In her words "We have been discussing with them and we are arranging peculiar allowances for them too.
This is to make sure that the extra-work they do, according to the limits that is allowed, is provided for in the payroll" Zainab emphasized.
Also, according to her, ASUU has understood now that their concerns would be addressed and they have started working with us.
As we speak, the Accountant General staff is on the field trying to capture the last batch of the staff into the IPPIS.
On his part, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, countered ASUU, saying its position was an endorsement of corruption.
Recall that the program, IPPIS, was introduced in 2007 and is aimed at centralizing payroll and payment systems, facilitating convenient staff remuneration with minimal wastage as well as aiding manpower training and budgeting.