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ASUU rejects GIFMIS as IPPIS alternative, insists on UTAS for payroll management
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the federal government’s proposed alternative payroll platform intended to replace the IPPIS.
The IPPIS, Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, was introduced in 2006 to manage the salaries of public sector workers.
Administered by the office of the accountant-general, the platform had increasingly accommodated federal tertiary institutions by 2016.
It however became the subject of heated protests for many public tertiary institutions over alleged unilateral manipulation and fraud.
Administrators across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education argued that its centralised nature eroded the powers of provosts and governing councils since the head of the civil service often had to determine what staffers were employed and when.
ASUU had proposed the Unified Treasury Accounting System (UTAS) as an alternative, subjecting it to the government’s integrity tests.
But the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said the UTAS had failed three of its integrity tests.
In October 2024, the federal government rolled out guidelines for the removal of federal tertiary institutions from the IPPIS.
It said institutions will now self-process and forward their payroll to the IPPIS department of the accountant-general’s office for vetting.
Payment is then to be done through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) from November.
ASUU, which is a major stakeholder in the tussle with the federal government over payroll management, has rejected the GIFMIS.
Emmanuel Osodeke, the ASUU president, said the union’s stance is in line with the autonomy of the nation’s tertiary institutions.
“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,” he said.
“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, and 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. That is the autonomy we are talking about as stipulated in the law.”
Osodeke said the union had rejected the IPPIS because its implementation not only eroded university autonomy but meddled with its internal affairs and violated Section 24A of the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act 2003.
He said universities should be given autonomy to be able to plan for staff member recruitment and how to pay their salaries.
Osodeke faulted the guidelines by the government detailing the process for the formal exit of federal tertiary institutions from IPPIS.
He said the accountant-general is playing games with ASUU by transferring the union to what he termed an “appendage” of the IPPIS.
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Trump set to sign Executive Order to flush out transgender personnel from US military
President-elect, Donald Trump, is set to sign an executive order that would remove all transgender members from the United States military.
It was learnt that the development has intensified concerns within the LGBTQ+ community.
The report claimed that the state officials had stated that transgender personnel would be discharged on medical grounds, deeming them “unfit” to serve.
Recall that during Trump’s first term as president, he introduced a similar policy that prohibited transgender individuals from joining the armed forces while allowing those already enlisted to remain in their roles.
After Trump left office, President Joe Biden had overturned the military ban in his first week as president in 2021, issuing an executive order to restore transgender individuals’ right to serve openly. However, with Trump’s potential return to the White House, transgender rights in the US may face renewed challenges.
However, the current proposal, as reported, would extend to removing all transgender service members, regardless of their current status. It is anticipated that the executive order will be issued on Trump’s first day in office, January 20 next year.
If signed, Trump’s new directive could be broader and more contentious than the policy he implemented during his first term. What would be its impact on transgender personnel serving in US military.
Reports indicated that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals are actively serving in the US military.
This is coming amid moves by US congress to stop irst transgender lawmaker from using female restrooms and bathrooms in her new workplace.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed his support for the policy that tends to disregard transgender ideologies in the legislative arm.
“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the speaker said in a statement last Wednesday.
“It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.
The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.
Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.
She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.
It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.
The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.
Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.
She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.
News
PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder
Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently
News
Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters
The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.
The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.
It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.
According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.
“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”
The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.
Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members
Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS
All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.
They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.
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