Anglican Archbishop, Ibezim urges FG, ASUU to resolve issues on IPPIS

Maduako Igbokwe, Onitsha

ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Archbishop, Province on the Niger , Anglican Communion, and Bishop of Awka Anglican Diocese, Chibuzor Alexander Ibezim has expressed shock that Nigerian universities are shut over Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS). He appealed to the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to shift grounds and reopen the universities.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Onitsha Anambra State on Friday for the occasion to mark 2020 Mothering Day celebration in the diocese. According to Ibezim the FG and ASUU must quickly resolve the IPPIS issues and return the children to their various institutions,so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

“I am unhappy that our universities are shut down because of ASUU warning strike over IPPIS and I want the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU to shift grounds and resolve this issue in the interest of the students.

“I don’t know what is different from IPPIS and UTAS which is University Transparency and Accountability Solution which the academic staff said is able to tackle the unwholesome issues around wages payment which government said IPPIS will eliminate. ASUU described IPPIS as fraud. Whatever, let there be resolution on the crisis for academic activities to resume in the universities.

“I should think that the Federal Government needed to consider the peculiarities of tertiary Institutions both at colleges, polytechnics and universities during implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

“There should be no reason for voluntary deductions like National Housing Fund from the salary of staff ,but fail to deduct statutory deductions like staff cooperative society contributions.

It is sad commentary too not to pay staff on sabbatical leave and peculiar allowances like peculiar earned academic allowance, (PEAA). Already, there are alarms raised everywhere since the payment with IPPIS started. FG and ASUU should reach a common ground and resolve this festering crisis” he said.

He also frowned at the situation where lecturers award marks to female students in exchange for sex.

“Why should academics be associated with sex for marks or sex for cash? It is a dangerous phenomena and hydra headed monster everyone who calls himself an academic must fight to stop. I condemn anyone in the Tertiary institution encouraging such because; it is blight on the society.

“It undermines our collective efforts to bequeath a morally upright society to posterity. I charge Vice Chancellors and the university governing councils across the country to be decisive on this challenge and rid the academic institutions of all undesirable elements” he said.