Education: IPPIS - FG calls on ASUU to suspend strike and return to the classroom to manufacture drugs for the cure of COVID-19

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) proceeded on strike over the Federal Government’s insistence that the union should enroll in IPPIS if not its members will not receive their salaries.

This came as ASUU described the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, as a tunnel created to siphon government resources.

However, (ASUU) have been called upon by the Federal Government, yesterday, to suspend the strike and return to the classroom to manufacture drugs for the cure of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federal Government said it was immoral for those who should be conducting research for the discovery of new drugs, medical equipment that would be used during the COVID-19 period to say that they were at home.

Speaking in Abuja, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said: The government has demonstrated ample goodwill. The hope now is that the ASUU will declare the end of their strike, go back to the classroom and come to the negotiating table to begin the talks.

Two reasons why they should call off the strike is that one government has shown goodwill, it has offered the olive branch that you are on a wrong strike and there is the issue of no work, no pay but the government is paying you. After all, the government is giving palliative to people, so why not extend it to you and your family members.

Second, it is immoral and despicable for those who should be conducting research as Nigerians for the discovery of new drugs, medical equipment that will be used during the Covid19 period to say that they are at home playing ludo and draft and other games.

Even though schools are not opened, ASUU members, in particular researchers, are to go to their labs, go to botanical gardens to get certain shrubs and other plants to be used in drug development during this COVID-19.

Those who are pharmacologists, those in the electronics department and software engineers, this is the time for research into the manufacture of ventilators or make some conventions.

Also Read: Despite payment of salaries, Strike continues says ASUU

It is unpatriotic for them to even continue saying that they are on strike at this time. They should not be saying it.

ASSU Statement

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has described IPPIS as a platform for fraud and corruption.

Chairman of ASUU in the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Dr. Olayinka Awopetu, said: The incidents over the last four months of the use of the platform for university workers have demonstrated that the program is not only fraudulent steroid theft, but also deception on a roller coaster.

Events of the last few months have not only vindicated the position of ASUU, but they are also proving that serious fraud could be going on through IPPIS if not urgently checked.

The names of academics were randomly inserted into the database, often without any authentication or collection of their biometrics, and challenged the feasibility of enrolling academics in a payroll program that was supposed to have a special identity management feature and focused on personal biometrics.

The answer is blowing in the winds, but it has very serious implications and Nigerians should be concerned.