The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed why it rejected the federal government’s two payment platforms in favour of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
The Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS) were both rejected by ASUU, with the body creating UTAS as an alternative.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke shared that the rejection of both platforms aligns with the autonomy of the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Osodeke added that UTAS conforms with the statutory provision that the university’s finances should be managed by its Governing Council.
“ASUU’s position is that the finances of the university should be managed by the Governing Council. That’s what the law says. It does not say by the Accountant General’s office.
”Every year, the governing council directs the Vice Chancellor to defend its budget at the National Assembly. When the budget is approved including salary, remuneration, overhead, it will go to the President for assent and it becomes a law.
”That money should be released to the Governing council to pay its staff members. That is the autonomy of the university we are talking about, as stipulated in the law,” he stated.
