By Elizabeth Okwe and Ojone Grace Odaudu 

In line with the long-standing agitations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the federal government has rolled out guidelines for the removal of federal tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

The IPPIS is a centralised payroll system the federal government introduced in 2006 to manage the salaries of public sector employees.

Administered by the office of the accountant-general, the platform had increasingly accommodated federal tertiary institutions by 2016.

It however became a subject of heated protests for many public tertiary institutions that 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.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) proposed the Unified Treasury Accounting System (UTAS) proposed as an alternative.

Oluwatoyin Madein, the accountant-general of the federation, has now issued a circular effectively setting out a guideline for the removal of federal tertiary institutions from the IPPIS payroll platform.

The move, he said, was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for institutional autonomy and efficient payroll management.

The circular highlighted an exit strategy for the tertiary institutions and mandated that the affected institutions immediately comply.

Madein said the payroll for the public institutions will be processed by the IPPIS for October ahead of the exit in November 2024.

He said the institutions would now process the payrolls themselves while the IPPIS department of accountant-general’s office vets them.

The accountant-general said payment will be through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

Madein said institutions must fill out and submit GIFMIS enrolment forms to personnel handling payroll-related roles before October 21.

He said the forms will grant access to the personnel cost budget line for each institution on the GIFMIS platform.

On outstanding financial obligations that have been the subject of protests, the circular instructed federal tertiary institutions to compile data on promotion/salary arrears and forward them to the budget office of the federation for onward further processing and resolution.

Madein said the bank details of the employees must be validated and uploaded on the GIFMIS platform within the specified timeframe.

By Ojone Grace Odaudu

Proprietors of Private Schools have expressed concern over the Federal Government’s directive to peg the age of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) candidates.

Alaka Lukman, Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, expressed this concern in an interview with the Newsmen in Lagos.

The Federal Government recently directed that candidates under the age of 18 years will no longer be allowed to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO).

Lukman said that pegging the age limit for the candidates for the examinations would lead to delaying and denying some students access to higher education when they complete their secondary education.

Dr Samira Jibir
National President, NAPPS

“The policy of the government gives us room for concern. We believe that the government is only focusing on maturity of the students.

“But this is just one of the mental development of any human being.

“Maturity does not come by age alone. This policy can prove detrimental to brilliant students that finish secondary before they clock 18 years.

“Will they have to wait two years extra, before taking WAEC?

“There is need for the government to give the directive a second thought because it may not be the best for the system and can lead to frustration.

“The development can also lead to potential disparities in students’ educational outcomes, as not all students may have the same opportunities or resources to continue their education until they reach the age of 18.

“Our government should consider the mental health of our students, some are presently facing the pressure of how to quickly go through secondary school because of the financial position of their parents,” he added.

The NAPPS president suggested that the government should rather peg the entry age for students getting into university.

He said admission into university should not be for people at any age.

According to Lukman, the policy will breed teenagers with idle hands roaming about the streets, adding that this can prove detrimental, if an alternative way of engaging these teenagers is not provided.

By Ojone Grace Odaudu (Edited by Sule Musa)

Security sources say 20 medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State have just been rescued.

The operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.

Security agencies – the police, DSS and military personnel and equipment were involved in the operation, with the support of the Benue State government.

Though the student have regained their freedom according to security sources, details of the rescue operation are still sketchy at the moment.

News of the abduction of the students hit the media space last Friday, attracting reactions from Nigerians who condemned the rising rate of kidnapping in the country.

The victims were said to be on their way to Enugu State, passing through the Otukpo Local Government area in Benue before they encountered bandits.

They were en route to Enugu for a programme when they ran into the kidnappers around Otukpo.

The students were said to be travelling in a convoy of two buses and were coming from the northern part of the country when they ran into the ambush on Thursday evening at about 5:30 pm.

A few days after their abduction, their captors had established contact with the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦50 million to secure the release of their hostages.

IGP orders rescue

Responding to calls for the rescue of the students, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, immediately ordered the rescue of the victims.

In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, the IGP condemned the kidnapping of students.

Egbetokun described their abduction as “truly appalling, callous, and unacceptable”.

He said, “In a display of unwavering commitment to the rescue, safety, and well-being of the young Nigerians, the IGP has ordered the prompt deployment of a substantial number of human and technical resources to augment the manpower of the Benue State Command and ensure the swift rescue of our beloved students. This initiative encompasses the mobilization of additional tactical units from the FID-STS and FID-IRT, the deployment of advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims.

“The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students.

“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the zeal of the force to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of the perpetrators and others alike, as the Nigeria Police Force is determined to sustain the fight against crimes and criminality, most especially kidnapping of Nigerians.

“The IGP equally appeals to the general public to provide useful information and actionable intelligence that may aid the ongoing investigation and the rescue operation. Individuals with relevant details are encouraged to contact the nearest police station the state’s command control number or the FHQ via Pressforabuja@police.gov.ng and other helplines.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and it will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace, stability, and the rule of law throughout the country.”

Kidnapping In Benue

In the past six years, the federal highway from Otukpo through Ugbokolo in the Okpokwu Local Government Area down to Odoba and Otukpa in Ogbadibu Local Government Area has become one of Nigeria’s dangerous roads to travel due to the notorious kidnap syndicate controlling the thick forests and vast ungoverned spaces.

Some weeks ago, the management team of the Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, led by the Rector was kidnapped on that axis.

This was aside from several other victims including Catholic priests and many other kidnapping cases of motorists with little or no effort to tame the menace.