— As NAAT laments disparities under GIFMIS payment platform

—Demands immediate payment of withheld salaries

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — THE National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, has expressed concerns over the switch from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS for salary payments in federal tertiary institutions.

The association has also condemned the frequent change of Vice Chancellors in the Universities, saying it disrupts the university programmes.

These among others were contained in a statement issued by the NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma.

The association in the statement expressed deep concern over issues such as delayed salary payments, discrepancies in salary amounts and irregular remittance of statutory and third-party deductions, including check-off dues after the transition.

It will be recalled that the federal government initiated the transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS in 2024 to grant tertiary institutions greater autonomy and enhance efficiency in payroll management.

But NAAT said despite the intended benefits, the transition has been fraught with challenges, leading to delayed salary disbursements, inconsistencies in salary figures and irregular remittances of essential deductions.

Consequently, NAAT called on the relevant government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the administrators of GIFMIS to enhance and streamline the payment processes to ensure timely and accurate salary disbursements.

According to the statement: “The Nigerian public may recall that during the high-level stakeholders meeting held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) on January,11th 2024. NAAT expressed her fears over the decision taken by Federal Government to exempt Tertiary Institutions from Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

“Since our transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS, our experience has been filled with delays, disparities in salaries, and irregular remittances of statutory and third-party deductions.”

It further criticised the federal government’s frequent dissolution of university governing councils and the removal of vice-chancellors without adherence to due process.

The union warned that such actions disrupt university administration, hinder research and development and ultimately affect the quality of graduates.

“NAAT expresses deep concern over the trend of the rampant dissolution of duly appointed and inaugurated University Governing Councils, removal of Vice- Chancellors and the swapping of Pro-Chancellors by the Federal Government without recourse to the laid-down procedures as enshrined in the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2003,” it said.

NAAT also demanded for the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, including three and a half months of withheld salaries, 12 months of arrears for the 25 percent and 35 percent salary increase, payment of wage awards and occupational hazard allowances and implementation of CONTISS 14 and 15 for academic technologists.

On tax reforms and telecom tariff hike, NAAT aligned itself with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in rejecting the proposed tax reform bills before the National Assembly, arguing that they would impose additional financial burdens on Nigerians.

It also condemned the recent increase in telecommunication tariffs on calls and data, calling for immediate reversal until wider consultations are held.