The federal government has directed the ministry of finance not to release funds for the payment of salaries of tertiary institutions’ staff who have not enrolled on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as their salaries will be paid on the platform with effect from January.
A letter from the office of the accountant general of the federation dated January 21, 2020 directed the minister of finance, budget and national planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed not to release funds for January salaries of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education staff.
The letter marked OAGF/IPPIS/19/11/54 and entitled ‘Request for stoppage of release of funds for January salaries to federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,’ read in part:
“I am directed to inform you that the preparation of January 2020 salary payroll and warrants of the federal tertiary institutions are ongoing and will be ready for submission on or before January 29, 2020.
“This is to give effect to the directive of the federal government that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) drawing personal cost for the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) should be enrolled on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
“In order to actualise this directive, you are please requested not to release funds for payments of the tertiary institutions as their salaries will henceforth be paid on the IPPIS Platform with effect from January 2020.”
It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has consistently opposed the enrollment in IPPIS.
It argues that the central payroll system is a violation of the university autonomy.
