The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) expressed deep concern on Thursday, noting that the implementation of the presidential directive to remove lecturers from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is facing obstacles. The government had, on December 13, 2023, exempted tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and monotechnics, from utilizing IPPIS for staff salary and allowance payments. The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced this decision after a Federal Executive Council meeting, stating that the directive would take immediate effect.
Despite this directive, ASUU revealed that federal universities received their January 2024 salaries through what they referred to as “the so-called new IPPS.” Monday Igbafe, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Benin Zone, expressed his dismay to journalists in Benin City, Edo State, describing this action as a direct contradiction of the presidential directive. Igbafe raised an alarm, stating, “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.”
Furthermore, Igbafe emphasized the need for the government to return to quarterly releases of funds to universities, enabling them to establish and implement their payment plans. He lamented the stagnation of university lecturers’ salaries for 15 years, attributing it to what he termed “impoverished pay.” Igbafe criticized the Federal Government for delays in concluding and signing the renegotiated 2009 agreement, initiated in 2017, stating that ASUU’s renegotiation with Nimi Briggs’ committee took only six months before being halted by the then Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
In addition, Igbafe criticized the governments of Ondo and Edo States for insufficient funding of state-owned universities, labeling their stance as detrimental to tertiary education. Accusing the Edo State Government of not paying salaries to many staff for 25 months and neglecting unpaid arrears of check-off dues in Ambrose Ali University, Igbafe alleged that the Ondo State Government is not adequately funding Adekunle Ajasin and Olusegun Agagu Universities, displaying insensitivity to the universities’ financial needs.
