Nigerian university workers have raised fresh concerns over persistent salary delays, linking the problem to unresolved issues surrounding payment systems following their exit from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
EWAN Monthly Dialogue Highlights Concerns
The concern formed a major part of discussions at the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) Monthly Dialogue themed ‘Delayed Salaries: FG Workers’ Agreement: Averting Impending Crisis in Nigerian Universities.’
Speakers at the webinar, including leaders of both academic and non-academic unions, noted that although the Federal Government approved universities’ disengagement from IPPIS, the transition has yet to produce a stable and widely accepted alternative, leaving workers exposed to irregular and delayed salary payments.
SSANU Vice President Calls for Collaboration
Vice President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Abdussobur Salaam, stated that the current challenges extend beyond welfare concerns and reflect deeper structural issues in the administration of university payroll.
He explained that SSANU developed a payment platform known as U3PS in response to government’s directive for alternative solutions, adding that the union invested significant time and resources into the system and presented it at the appropriate level.
Salaam, however, indicated that the platform has yet to gain full acceptance, pointing out that similar resistance had been experienced by other payroll solutions proposed within the university system.
He stressed the need for collaboration among unions, noting that a unified and jointly accepted platform would provide a lasting solution to the recurring payment challenges.
Impact of Delayed Salaries on Morale and Productivity
On the impact of delayed salaries, he pointed out that the situation has significantly affected the morale of university workers, reducing productivity and weakening the overall output of the system.
Salaam also suggested that the persistent delays appear to be connected to the unions’ exit from IPPIS, raising concerns about possible institutional resistance to the new payment arrangements.
Renegotiation of 2009 Agreement Stalled
Beyond the payroll concerns, he highlighted the prolonged delay in concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement between unions and the Federal Government, noting that the process has spanned several years and multiple committees without resolution.
He warned that failure to conclude the agreement could create financial complications, particularly as implementation is expected to take effect from January 2026, which may result in accumulated arrears.
ASUU President Raises Alarm Over Irregular Payments
Also speaking, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Chris Piwuna, raised concerns over inconsistencies in salary payments, describing the process as irregular and unreliable.
He stated that the union had repeatedly raised alarm whenever salaries were not paid within the expected timeframe, adding that such delays persist despite existing agreements with the Federal Government.
Piwuna attributed part of the challenge to inconsistencies in government’s budget cycle explanations, noting that delays had previously been linked to budget passage, yet payment irregularities have continued even after the budget was approved.
Outstanding Issues and Governance Concerns
He further observed that the implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government remains uneven, with several components either partially executed or yet to be addressed.
Among the outstanding issues, he identified the non-establishment of the proposed National Research Council and concerns around interference in university governance.
The ASUU president emphasised that industrial harmony within universities depends on the collective wellbeing of all unions, noting that non-teaching staff play a critical role in the system.
He described the situation as demoralising, particularly where workers are responsible for processing salaries without clarity on their own conditions of service.
ASUU Advocates UTAS as Solution
Piwuna also reiterated the union’s position on adopting its University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), describing it as a more suitable platform for managing university payroll and administrative processes.
He added that the union would review the situation at its next meeting and take a comprehensive position if salary irregularities persist.
