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| Prof Ogunyemi |
IPPIS: ASUU, AGF, national service
As the battle between Federal
Government and ASUU on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System
(IPPIS) rages on, UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU reports that the battle is turning
personal and must be checked for good of democracy.
Government and ASUU on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System
(IPPIS) rages on, UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU reports that the battle is turning
personal and must be checked for good of democracy.
Background
The federal government, through its
Accountant general of the federation (AGF) insists that the Academic staff
Union of Universities (ASUU) members be enrolled on the IPPIS platform as all
federal government workers.
Accountant general of the federation (AGF) insists that the Academic staff
Union of Universities (ASUU) members be enrolled on the IPPIS platform as all
federal government workers.
But the lecturers argue that the scheme will
erode the university autonomy they had fought hard to achieve and reject the
idea. Since then the battle between
government and ASUU has been raging. But the latest attack on AGF by ASUU is commonplace
devoid of intellectualism.
erode the university autonomy they had fought hard to achieve and reject the
idea. Since then the battle between
government and ASUU has been raging. But the latest attack on AGF by ASUU is commonplace
devoid of intellectualism.
Probity, accountability, transparency in governance
Not long ago, the federal government concluded
arrangements to enroll all federal universities in Nigeria on the Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to promote probity,
transparency and Accountability in government expenditure and to achieve the
desired objectives of governance in centralizing payroll system.
arrangements to enroll all federal universities in Nigeria on the Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to promote probity,
transparency and Accountability in government expenditure and to achieve the
desired objectives of governance in centralizing payroll system.
The
Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, stated this at the
meeting of vice chancellors, registrars and bursars of federal universities
with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation held at the National Universities Commission
Auditorium, Abuja. He said that the centralised payroll would be prepared by
individual universities but co-ordinated by IPPIS while the total management of
the human resources rests squarely with the universities.
Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, stated this at the
meeting of vice chancellors, registrars and bursars of federal universities
with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation held at the National Universities Commission
Auditorium, Abuja. He said that the centralised payroll would be prepared by
individual universities but co-ordinated by IPPIS while the total management of
the human resources rests squarely with the universities.
AGF said the IPPIS scheme is one of the federal
government’s reform initiative which is designed to achieve among others, a centralised
payroll system of the federal government to facilitate easy storage, updating
and retrieval of personal record for administrative and pension processing to
aid manpower planning and budgeting as well as to comply with the global best
practice.
government’s reform initiative which is designed to achieve among others, a centralised
payroll system of the federal government to facilitate easy storage, updating
and retrieval of personal record for administrative and pension processing to
aid manpower planning and budgeting as well as to comply with the global best
practice.
He stated
that prior to 2015, the total number of Ministries Departments and Agencies
(MDAs) on IPPIS was 288 with total staff strength of 235,858, adding that as at
today the total MDAs on IPPIS platform is 561 with a total staff count of over
755,422. The AGF further stated that the cumulative savings achieved on IPPIS
platform between 2017 and 2018 was N273, 809,842,071.99, which he said, would
have been lost but now available for government spending.
that prior to 2015, the total number of Ministries Departments and Agencies
(MDAs) on IPPIS was 288 with total staff strength of 235,858, adding that as at
today the total MDAs on IPPIS platform is 561 with a total staff count of over
755,422. The AGF further stated that the cumulative savings achieved on IPPIS
platform between 2017 and 2018 was N273, 809,842,071.99, which he said, would
have been lost but now available for government spending.
Mr. Idris
also assured them that if they comply with the Presidential directive on IPPIS
platform enrolment, the IPPIS will accommodate all peculiarities such as
sabbatical, visitation, honorarium and earned allowances, etc, of lecturers.
also assured them that if they comply with the Presidential directive on IPPIS
platform enrolment, the IPPIS will accommodate all peculiarities such as
sabbatical, visitation, honorarium and earned allowances, etc, of lecturers.
He stated
that the Universities should be the best ground for entrenching reforms towards
transparency and good governance, urging them to embrace the scheme as
government will not change its position on IPPIS enrolment. The AGF further
explained that the Nigerian Police and Para- Military Agencies are already
being paid on IPPIS platform while the enrolment of the Nigeria Military –
Army, Navy and Airforce have just been concluded and a trial payroll is
ongoing. In the same vein the enrolment of Federal Polytechnics is scheduled
for early July, 2019.
that the Universities should be the best ground for entrenching reforms towards
transparency and good governance, urging them to embrace the scheme as
government will not change its position on IPPIS enrolment. The AGF further
explained that the Nigerian Police and Para- Military Agencies are already
being paid on IPPIS platform while the enrolment of the Nigeria Military –
Army, Navy and Airforce have just been concluded and a trial payroll is
ongoing. In the same vein the enrolment of Federal Polytechnics is scheduled
for early July, 2019.
the
Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar
Rasheed described the IPPIS scheme as one of the best thing that has happened
to Public Finance Management. That IPPIS is the best way to overcome some of
the challenges affecting the Universities.
Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar
Rasheed described the IPPIS scheme as one of the best thing that has happened
to Public Finance Management. That IPPIS is the best way to overcome some of
the challenges affecting the Universities.
Also
speaking, the Director IPPIS (OAGF), Mr Olusegun Olufehinti, noted that every
University will be involved in the enrollment process, and assured the
university administrators of continuous engagement throughout the process.
speaking, the Director IPPIS (OAGF), Mr Olusegun Olufehinti, noted that every
University will be involved in the enrollment process, and assured the
university administrators of continuous engagement throughout the process.
Over N230bn saved in three years
In October, the Accountant-General of
the Federation, Ahmed Idris
the Federation, Ahmed Idris
Mr. Ahmed Idris, said that the implementation of the
Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System had saved the country over
N230bn in three years.
Idris made the disclosure at the budget defence before
the Senate Committee on Finance.
Idris also said that the government stood the chance of
raking more money once workers in public universities and polytechnics were
enrolled on the IPPIS scheme.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in his 2020 budget
speech directed that all Federal Government workers must be enlisted on the
scheme.
Senate chairman finance committee
On his part, chairman of Senate Committee on finance,
Senator Adeola Olamilekan commended the office of the AGF its many reform initiatives
in public finance.
He said that
there was the need for the committee to meet with the office of the
accountant-general, revenue generating agencies and the Fiscal Responsibility
Commission to fine-tune further revenue generating methods.
Olamilekan promised that the committee would make all
efforts to make the fiscal responsibility commission more responsible to its
statutory functions.
Unbefitting ranting
of an academic
The Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU) has described the Accountant-General of the
Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, as a frustrated ‘account clerk’.
Union of Universities (ASUU) has described the Accountant-General of the
Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, as a frustrated ‘account clerk’.
This is coming as
ASUU members have refused to enroll into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel
Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU members have refused to enroll into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel
Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU condemned the
AGF for threatening to sanction vice chancellors who have refused to enroll on
what it called ‘fraud platform’.
AGF for threatening to sanction vice chancellors who have refused to enroll on
what it called ‘fraud platform’.
A lecturer who
prefers anonymity told Blueprint that AGF, Mr Idris, had in a letter dated
December 2nd, 2019, advised some vice chancellors who are yet to enroll on
IPPIS to do so on or before December 6, failure of which will attract
appropriate sanctions.
prefers anonymity told Blueprint that AGF, Mr Idris, had in a letter dated
December 2nd, 2019, advised some vice chancellors who are yet to enroll on
IPPIS to do so on or before December 6, failure of which will attract
appropriate sanctions.
However, ASUU
chairman at the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Deji Omole, stated that it
was unfortunate that vice chancellors had become errand boys that will now be
threatened by “an account clerk”.
chairman at the University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Deji Omole, stated that it
was unfortunate that vice chancellors had become errand boys that will now be
threatened by “an account clerk”.
Omole said the
threat against VCs was an indication of government’s frustration due to
overwhelming refusal of ASUU chapters across the nation not to enroll on IPPIS platform.
threat against VCs was an indication of government’s frustration due to
overwhelming refusal of ASUU chapters across the nation not to enroll on IPPIS platform.
Omole in a
statement on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, pointed out that it
was unfortunate that the likes of Mr Idris whose office have continued to
extort public university bursars via unlawful kickbacks, was the one claiming
he wants to use IPPIS to ensure transparency and accountability.
statement on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, pointed out that it
was unfortunate that the likes of Mr Idris whose office have continued to
extort public university bursars via unlawful kickbacks, was the one claiming
he wants to use IPPIS to ensure transparency and accountability.
Omole, therefore
hailed some vice chancellors for refusing to be enslaved. He said it was woes to a nation where
intellectuals become errand boys to those who cannot pass ICAN exam.
hailed some vice chancellors for refusing to be enslaved. He said it was woes to a nation where
intellectuals become errand boys to those who cannot pass ICAN exam.
“It is a very sad development for any nation
having the likes of Idris as the chief accountant of the nation.
having the likes of Idris as the chief accountant of the nation.
“It takes someone
with scholarship to appreciate scholars,” Omole said.
with scholarship to appreciate scholars,” Omole said.
Omole maintained
that the union despite charting a template for the federal government on the
matter would not be turned to “errand boys of corrupt civil servants.”
that the union despite charting a template for the federal government on the
matter would not be turned to “errand boys of corrupt civil servants.”
National duty vs personal pursuit
The university community which holds
the nation’s supposed intellectuals should differentiate between national duty
and personal aspirations and pursuits. For a university lecturer to call the nation’s
accountant general a failure in an elementary accounting (ICAN) is an act of
the garage, which is not expected of an intellectual. Omole should be
sanctioned or disowned by ASUU for talking like a motor park tout, and
appealing to marketplace language to rubbish an Account-General of the
federation. Mr Idris is running errand for the federal
government and Nigerians, not fot himself or his family. Lectuers enrollment on
IPPIS would neither increase the AGF’s salaries and allowances nor decrease it.
the nation’s supposed intellectuals should differentiate between national duty
and personal aspirations and pursuits. For a university lecturer to call the nation’s
accountant general a failure in an elementary accounting (ICAN) is an act of
the garage, which is not expected of an intellectual. Omole should be
sanctioned or disowned by ASUU for talking like a motor park tout, and
appealing to marketplace language to rubbish an Account-General of the
federation. Mr Idris is running errand for the federal
government and Nigerians, not fot himself or his family. Lectuers enrollment on
IPPIS would neither increase the AGF’s salaries and allowances nor decrease it.
Buhari leads professors
If intelligent quotient or higher
degrees are the criteria for leadership position in a democracy, President
Muhammadu Buhari, wouldn’t lead a nation blessed with intellectuals of
international professorial standing; Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro, the Executive
Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), or Professor Rasheed of
the National Universities Commission (NUC) would not run errand for the
minister of education, Malam Adamu Professor Mahmood Yakub, chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), wouldn’t want to run errand
for President Muhammadu Buhari.
degrees are the criteria for leadership position in a democracy, President
Muhammadu Buhari, wouldn’t lead a nation blessed with intellectuals of
international professorial standing; Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro, the Executive
Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), or Professor Rasheed of
the National Universities Commission (NUC) would not run errand for the
minister of education, Malam Adamu Professor Mahmood Yakub, chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), wouldn’t want to run errand
for President Muhammadu Buhari.
School dropouts rule the world
Mr Ahmed Idris, might be an
accounting failure, but he might make a better Accountant-General of the Federation
than a first class accounting graduate or a professor of Accountancy in the
university.
accounting failure, but he might make a better Accountant-General of the Federation
than a first class accounting graduate or a professor of Accountancy in the
university.
What is education?
Philosophers say education is what
remains after we have forgotten all we learned in school. It is simply a change
in behaviour.
remains after we have forgotten all we learned in school. It is simply a change
in behaviour.
Omole, I dare say, is not learned
enough to note that most inventions humanity is enjoying today were made
possible by men and women who dropped out of school or who had never seen the
four walls of formal school. He should study the lives of Thomas Alva Edison,
one of the greatest inventors humanity
knows, who made it possible for Mr Omole to watch football matches played in
the night with his invention of electric bulb;
Henry Ford, of Henry Motors, a humble American motor mechanic; Bill Gates of Microsoft Corporation, whose
financial status as the richest man on earth is still in place; Steven Jobs
of Apple Computers and a whose of others whose intellectual prowess or
visions have shaped the world and are still shaping it. All of them did not add
to the joy of humanity because they are the most intelligent of God’s creations as Edison aptly puts it: “Genius is
1 per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration”.
enough to note that most inventions humanity is enjoying today were made
possible by men and women who dropped out of school or who had never seen the
four walls of formal school. He should study the lives of Thomas Alva Edison,
one of the greatest inventors humanity
knows, who made it possible for Mr Omole to watch football matches played in
the night with his invention of electric bulb;
Henry Ford, of Henry Motors, a humble American motor mechanic; Bill Gates of Microsoft Corporation, whose
financial status as the richest man on earth is still in place; Steven Jobs
of Apple Computers and a whose of others whose intellectual prowess or
visions have shaped the world and are still shaping it. All of them did not add
to the joy of humanity because they are the most intelligent of God’s creations as Edison aptly puts it: “Genius is
1 per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration”.
Nigeria’s cognitive perspective
Omole should not judge a person’s
intellect by the nation’s cognitive examinations, which in most cases, leave
out the affective and psychomotor aspects.
intellect by the nation’s cognitive examinations, which in most cases, leave
out the affective and psychomotor aspects.
An individual might go to a university and
come out with first class, but he might not know the name of the vice
chancellor of his university or his department head or the motto of his alma
mater.
come out with first class, but he might not know the name of the vice
chancellor of his university or his department head or the motto of his alma
mater.
Omole fails to know that in life
everybody is right, more so in an academic community.
everybody is right, more so in an academic community.
An advice to ASUU
Omole should be punished by ASUU for
cheapening their struggle. Lecturers are advised to base their arguments on
issues rather than on pettiness that reduces their scholarship.
cheapening their struggle. Lecturers are advised to base their arguments on
issues rather than on pettiness that reduces their scholarship.