COEASU Demands Immediate Release of Withheld Salaries for Lecturers

Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) is urgently calling for the immediate release of salaries for 70 lecturers allegedly withheld due to infractions on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The education union, as represented by its National President, Smart Olugbeko, expressed appreciation to the Federal Executive Council for exempting tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform. The recent decision by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to exclude tertiary institutions from IPPIS received commendation from academic unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

COEASU emphasized its consistent opposition to IPPIS, labeling it a fraudulent and ineffective platform. The union regretted the havoc wreaked on the education system, emphasizing that it will take a considerable amount of time for institutions to recover fully from the damage caused by IPPIS.

Currently, over seventy lecturers, who took Extended leave between 2020 and 2022, have not received salaries throughout the extended duration. Some were paid for only a few months, and many lecturers are still awaiting payment, with IPPIS failing to provide explanations for the omissions. Despite all efforts to prompt IPPIS to effect payments, no positive results have been achieved.

Highlighting the history of their long-standing opposition to IPPIS, the union expressed concern that individuals in critical ministries, whose interests were affected by the President’s decision, might attempt to sabotage the process. The union urged caution, suggesting that measures should be put in place to ensure institutions face no obstacles in accessing their funds. Any delays or shortfalls in paying salaries could put at risk the calmness at work. The union also called for a deadline for IPPIS to clear all its liabilities to institutions to prevent transferring these liabilities to the Governing Councils.

COEASU appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Honourable Minister of Education to take appropriate steps to ensure tertiary institutions have unhindered and timely access to their pay wallets. These wallets should be adequately funded to cater to the institutions’ needs, including monthly salaries, Peculiar Earned Academic Allowance, Extended leave, and recruitment of new staff to fill existing vacancies. The union reassured Mr. President and the Honourable Minister that they would remain vigilant and prevent any abuse of the golden opportunity by Provosts or Governing Councils.”