Poly lecturers issue 21-day ultimatum over IPPIS

Senior members of staff in Nigerian polytechnics have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike after 21 days from Tuesday if the federal government “fails to address lingering issues” associated with Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

This is coming less than 72 hours after Senior Staff of Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) commenced 14-day warning strike to protest their grievances against IPPIS.

The polytechnic workers, under the auspices of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), after its emergency meeting at Labour House in Abuja, also expressed their displeasure at the way National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had handled Scheme of Service.

In a communique read to journalists at the end of the meeting, National President of SSANIP, Philip Ogunsipe, cited issues associated with IPPIS as non-release of new minimum wage arrears, inconsistencies in the release of third-party deductions, non-payment of COVID-19 hazard allowance for health workers, high draconian tax regime on consolidated salary, delay in promotion arrears, among others.

Ogunsipe said, “Against this backdrop, the Council wishes to call on the relevant agencies of Government to expedite actions toward resolving these highlighted challenges.

“Equally, the Council wishes to frankly state that failure of the IPPIS to address these highlighted challenges within 21 days from the date of this communique would leave the union with no other option than to review its stance on IPPIS.”

He added, “The Council for the umpteenth time wishes to express its displeasure at the way and manner the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has handled the scheme of service so far. It therefore condemned the decision of the Board to review the same document without due consultation with relevant stakeholders.

“On the strength of this, the Council resolved that an attempt to foist a Scheme of Service document on SSANIP without our input is unacceptable and therefore would be an invitation to an atmosphere of disharmony.

“The Council wishes to specifically and frankly state that the failure of NBTE to address this issue within 21 days from the date of this communique would leave the Union with no other option than to declare industrial dispute.”