In a significant development, the Federal Government has approved the exemption of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The decision was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
According to Idris, remunerations for staff members in these institutions will no longer be processed through the IPPIS platform. The move is grounded in the government’s recognition that IPPIS hampers the autonomy of tertiary institutions in managing their affairs. The Minister clarified that universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education will now independently handle payroll processes instead of relying on IPPIS.
Addressing the rationale behind the decision, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, emphasized that the primary goal is to enhance the efficient management of public educational institutions nationwide. He asserted that the move is not a commentary on the integrity of IPPIS or alternative systems like the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). Mamman highlighted the government’s concern over Vice-Chancellors having to travel to Abuja for staff enlistment on IPPIS, a situation seen as an encroachment on university autonomy.
IPPIS, introduced in October 2006, aimed to reform personnel record-keeping, enhance transparency, and accountability in government agencies. While it has been implemented across various sectors, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vehemently opposed its adoption within universities. ASUU contends that IPPIS undermines university autonomy and is ill-suited to the unique nature of academic work. Instead, the union advocates for the adoption of UTAS, which addresses the specificities of the university system.
The centralization of payroll processes under IPPIS has been a source of tension, leading to disruptions in academic activities and prolonged standoffs. Despite government efforts to enforce IPPIS, ASUU has remained steadfast, resulting in strikes and interruptions in educational activities, including a significant eight-month hiatus that concluded in 2022.