The Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) is being replaced with the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) for the purpose of making salary payments in federal tertiary institutions.
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has voiced their concerns regarding its implementation. The group was also critical of the frequent appointment and removal of vice-chancellors of universities, arguing that this caused disruptions to the academic programs offered by the universities.
In addition to this, the statement that was released by the President of the NAAT, Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, included the following.
According to the statement, association has expressed a great deal of worry regarding issues that have arisen after the transfer. These issues include delayed salary payments, differences in salary amounts, and irregular remittance of statutory and third-party deductions, including check-off dues.
With the intention of providing higher institutions with increased autonomy and improving the effectiveness of payroll management, the Federal Government launched the transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS in 2024. This transition will be recalled.
There have been delays in salary disbursements, anomalies in wage statistics, and irregular remittances of important deductions, according to NAAT, despite the fact that the transition was undertaken with the intention of bringing about benefits.
For this reason, the National Association of Accountants of the Federation (NAAT) issued a call to action to the relevant government agencies.
The agencies include Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the administrators of GIFMIS, requesting that they improve and streamline the payment processes in order to guarantee that salary disbursements are made in a timely manner and with accuracy.
The statement read, “The Nigerian public may recall that during the high-level stakeholders meeting held at the National Universities Commission, NUC, on January,11, 2024.
“NAAT expressed her fears over the decision taken by Federal Government to exempt Tertiary Institutions from Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS.
“Since our transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS, our experience has been filled with delays, disparities in salaries, and irregular remittances of statutory and third-party deductions.
“NAAT expresses deep concern over the trend of the rampant dissolution of duly appointed and inaugurated University Governing Councils, removal of vice-chancellors and the swapping of pro-chancellors by the federal government without recourse to the laid-down procedures as enshrined in the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003.”
Payment of wage awards and occupational hazard allowances, three and a half months of withheld salaries, twelve months of arrears for the 25% and 35% salary increases, and the implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for academic technologists were all demands made by NAAT regarding outstanding salaries and allowances.
In regard to the tax reform measures now being considered by the National Assembly, NAAT joined the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in opposing them on the grounds that they would place further financial hardships on the Nigerian people.
It also demanded an immediate end to the recent rise in cellular charges for both calls and data and a return to the previous levels of service until further discussions could be organized.