Following the Federal Government's approval to exempt Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from the Integrated Payroll and Information System (IPPIS), paying salaries of ASUU members using a different mode of payment, Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment has said that the Federal Government's decision regarding salaries of ASUU is temporary.
Ngige made the assertion on Saturday, explaining that the measure was an interim pending when the ASUU University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) becomes operational.
"I think it is better because a lot of people are quoting us out of context, saying that we abandoned the IPPIS and that we said they should not be on IPPIS. It is not true," the minister said.
"What we said in the meeting and what we agreed was that in the interim for the transition period that UTAS is being tested by NITDA and the Office of National Security Adviser for cybersecurity.
"For that transition period, ASUU members that are not yet on IPPIS will be paid through the platform with which they were paid the President’s compassionate COVID-19 payment done to them between the months of February and June, he mentioned.
He assured that the IPPIS mode of payment has not been abandoned it is a significant tool in transactions by the government.
"That platform is a hybrid platform between IPPIS and MINPSI platform for the transition period. That is what was used. It’s a hybrid."
"So, there is a handshake between IPPIS and MINSI platform and that was what was used in paying them for that period and so, we are going to continue with that until UTAS undergoes all the integrity test and cybersecurity test and it is confirmed for use," Ngige added.
 "Dubai Submerged In Flood")