The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has strongly criticized the ongoing delays in salary payments across federal tertiary institutions, describing the situation as unacceptable and a significant source of hardship for thousands of staff nationwide.
ASUP National President, Shammah Kpanja, accused the Federal Government of subjecting polytechnic employees to prolonged financial distress, warning that the union may have no choice but to direct its members to withdraw their services if urgent measures are not taken.
“Our union may be forced to instruct members to stay away from work if this situation does not improve, and maintain this stance until salaries are paid. We may also adopt the same approach at the end of each month going forward,” Kpanja stated.
He revealed that federal tertiary institutions have experienced consistent salary delays over the past eight months, which he linked to the transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform.
“This disturbing pattern has subjected staff to mental torture, forcing them to endure long periods of uncertainty over when their already severely devalued salaries will be paid,” Kpanja said.
ASUP blamed the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for failing to ensure smooth funding processes during the migration between payment systems.
“Our members have repeatedly lodged complaints with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation without receiving any meaningful response, leaving workers in distress at the end of each month,” he noted.
Kpanja argued that the delay is unjustifiable, considering that both IPPIS and GIFMIS operate under the same federal administrative structure.
“Eight months is far too long for a transition period. Only a government that places little value on education would treat its workforce in such a manner,” he lamented.
Beyond technical issues with payment systems, ASUP asserted that the salary delays reflect a deeper systemic disregard for the academic community.
The union condemned the situation as an unfair burden on academic staff already grappling with a difficult economic climate, contrasting their financial struggles with the lavish lifestyles often displayed by Nigeria’s political elite.
