IPPIS: LAUTECH SSANU to embark on indefinite strike

Following the Federal Government breach of agreement and many shortcomings and lapses observed in the payment of salaries to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) through the IPPS platform, the Union, LAUTECH branch, is set to embark on indefinite strike. 

In a press release made available to Mouthpiece NGR on Saturday by its chairman, Comrade Abimbola. M. Alesinloye, the Union called on the Federal Government to quickly adjust the anomalies or face strike action. 

SSANU said it may not be left with any other alternative other than to embark on total and indefinite strike action to press their case. 

“We are giving the federal government till the resumption of our schools after COVID-19 pandemic, to call officers in charge of IPPIS to order, with the view to rearrange their system to accommodate our request for the review of the IPPIS operations or revert to the former system while the excess deductions that made on our salary be refunded without delay”.

The statement reads: “The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), LAUTECH Branch, will like to draw the attention of the general public to the unwholesome activities of the federal government towards thwarting the peaceful industrial atmosphere in the Nigerian universities as it affects the take home pay of the entire universities staff in the country, SSANU members in particular.”

“The general public will recall that the federal government announced the implementation of unified salary payment in the country recently. The federal government mooted the idea sometimes in 2014 and informed our Union of her intention.”

“SSANU raised observations as to how the payment will be effected taking to cognizance the peculiarities of the of the university staff salary structure which is at variance with the simple salary payment module as obtained in both the civil and public service.”

“We raised issues on the payment of the following allowances:

i). Earned allowance 

ii). Call duty allowance

iii). Shift duty allowance

iv). Responsibility Allowance and other of such that were duly approved at the 2009 negotiation table with the federal government.

v). Third party deductions like Cooperative, Endwell Scheme and personal bank loan deductions.

“It was jointly agreed that none of our entitlements will be denied us. It was on this assurance that we agreed to the capturing of our members on the IPPIS platform. The capturing exercise was done nationwide between November and December, 2019.“

“From February that the payment via IPPIS started through March to April, we noticed the discrepancies in the salary payment. There are instances of outright or deliberate omission of some names and the agreement to incorporate all our peculiar allowances was unilaterally revoked without any apology. The managers of the new salary payment platform, all of a sudden became hostile and uncompromising.”

“Unfortunately, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation that should midwife a peaceful resolution of the gathering impasse became the generalissimo in the dastardly act. The Accountant General became the mouthpiece of the oppressors giving information and excuses on why we have to contend with the shortchange.”

“Recently, in a online news publication and in responding to a query on this matter from a sister union, Accountant General became evasive. He was seen shifting his responsibility to the Salary and Wages Commission as if our demands are yet to be discussed or negotiated.”

“Today, more than half of our members are going home with peanuts as salary while others are either not paid a dime at all or over paid courtesy of jammed payment system.”

“The new payment system has brought to us financial calamities through unpaid Cooperative, Endwell Scheme and other third party deductions. Our members are now accidental paupers beginning to feed their families and dependants.”

“In view of all of the above, the union may not be left with any other alternative other than to embark on total and indefinite strike action to press our case. We are giving the federal government till the resumption of our schools after COVID-19 pandemic, to call officers in charge of IPPIS to order, with the view to rearrange their system to accommodate our request for the review of the IPPIS operations or revert to the former system while the excess deductions that made on our salary be refunded without delay.”

“We are putting the entire nation in notice of the imminent industrial action in our universities should the federal government failed to redress this problem and cause action to be taken toward a full implantation of our 2009 agreement as approved and facilitate the payment of our  fourteen(14) months minimum wage arrears without further delay.”

“Thank you.