FG’s personnel data verification exercise is dubious, says ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has ordered its members not to fill the 2019 personnel data verification form being distributed by the budget office of the federation, describing it as “dubious.”

ASUU had rejected the move by the federal government to use the 2019 personnel verification exercise to incorporate lecturers into the integrated personnel payroll information system (IPPIS).

The IPPIS was initiated by the federal government to have a centralised payroll system that meet the needs of employees and helps the government plan and manage payroll budget by ensuring proper control of personnel cost.

But Biodun Ogunyemi, president of ASUU, in a letter to chapter chairmen of ASUU, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on Sunday, directed members not to fill the personnel verification form.

Ogunyemi said though the union is not against the verification exercise, the form of the exercise being distributed requires the supply of “IPPIS number implying a dubious trap to forcefully migrate the union members into the system”.

“The attention of the leadership of the ASUU has been drawn to a circular from the budget office of the federation directing members of our union to participate in a Personnel Verification Exercise designed for selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies. An item on the form requires the supply of ‘IPPIS no’,” he said.

“This suggests that the so-called exercise is a disguised way of bringing back the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) which our Union rejected in the past with informed arguments.

“All chairpersons are advised against falling into the trap of forceful migration to the IPPIS.

“ll chairpersons are strongly advised to discourage their members from completing the form under reference until the Union review its position on the IPPS.”

Deji Omole, chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, said the current IPPIS program does not accommodate the “peculiarities” of the job of  lecturers.

“The current state of IPPS cannot accommodate the peculiarities of our job as scholar. Members should equally recall that the union has been engaging the federal government with a view to making relevant authorities to appreciate the implications and position of ASUU on the matter since 2014,” he said.

“Pending the resolution of the matter, evidence of which shall be communicated to all members, no member of the union is allowed to enlist in the IPPIS,”