The federal government has accused some universities of
sending the names of late lecturers for payment of salaries.
In a statement on Monday, Ahmed Idris, accountant-general of
the federation, dismissed the criticism of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information
System (IPPIS) is fraught with irregularities.
Henshaw Ogubike, director, information, press and public
relations in the office of the AGF, issued the statement on behalf of Idris.
He also gave explanation on why lecturers have been
receiving lower salaries following the implementation of IPPIS.
“On the alleged payment to dead university staff, it means
the Institutions deliberately forwarded to IPPIS the list containing dead ASUU
members as being part of their personnel, to get more personnel fund,” Idris
said.
“When President directed that ASUU be paid, the OAGF sent a
letter, through NUC Executive Secretary, requesting for the list of ASUU
members through their VCs. We run BVN (biometric verification number) test on
the list forwarded to us as we are aware that we cannot use the old nominal
roll because of changes that might have likely taken place.
“It is the responsibility of the Institutions or Agencies to
inform the IPPIS office about death, resignation or exit from service before
due date. We sent payroll analysis to the tertiary institution Bursars for
review of any omission or names to be excluded.
“This issue is a cheap propaganda by ASUU to denigrate IPPIS
for obvious reasons.”
Idris said the federal government decided to set the records
straight because of the extent which ASUU had gone to cast it in bad light.
“It is pertinent that the Office of the Accountant General
of the Federation (OAGF) puts the records straight for the interest of the
general public and majority of staff of tertiary institutions that have
displayed unparalleled understanding and cooperated with IPPIS till date. We
hereby state as follows,” he said.
“The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Tax is a statutory tax
deductions paid by all salary earners. IPPIS applied the correct rate in
compliance with Section 34 of the 6th schedule on personal income tax
(Amendment) Act of 2011. Prior to migration to IPPIS, the rate of tax being
applied by tertiary institutions was not correct, leading to underpayment of
PAYE Tax.
“It is important to note that all states governments of the
federation made claims on the federal government to pay the differential
arising from underpayment of tax by these institutions. The federal government
has paid several billions on behalf of these institutions because of their
underpayment of PAYE Tax. The request by the tertiary institution unions to
formalize tax evasion through IPPIS is not only untenable, but unpatriotic
request to violate extant laws on tax.”
Idris also explained that part of the deductions being made
from the lecturers salaries would enable them access loans to own their
personal houses after retirement.
“NHF Deductions: The National Housing Fund (NHF) is 2.5% of
basic salary. This is another statutory contribution backed by the Act of
National Assembly,” the statement read.
“This is a savings contribution by all federal employees to
enable them have access to short life loans to own their personal houses. These
savings contribution are refundable with interest either at retirement or exit
from being an employee of the federal government.
“The ASUU is bringing claims that those laws should not be
applicable to them and thereby should be exempted or be made optional for them.
The request for breach of Act of Parliament is not within the ambit of the
IPPIS or the (OAGF). They have been advised to approach the National Assembly
for amendment of the Act.
“Another issue raised by the unions is the Employees’
Pension Contribution deductions. Employees’ Pension Contribution 7.5%. The ASUU
claim that the Employee Contributory Pension should be based on basic salary
and not on consolidated salary and it has increased their employee deductions
thereby reducing their take home.
“This is a penny wise argument not expected from Ivory
Tower. The Consolidated salary is what is applicable to determine employee’s
contribution of all Federal employees’ as Salaries Income and Wages Commission
(SIWC) have consolidated salary without the composition. The actual amount
contributed by the employee determines what the Government contributes as well.
Deduction is in line with the Pension Contributory Act.
“Any other salaries and allowances approved by any other
agency in Nigeria which are not formalized by these two agencies will amount to
illegal payment. Therefore, ASUU and other unions are expected to understand
this. The fact that they arm-twisted their institutions to pay them these
allowances does not translate to legality.”
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