IPPIS Saga: Polytechnic Workers Issue 21days Ultimatum,Threatens Strike.
IPPIS Saga: Polytechnic Workers Issue 21days Ultimatum,Threatens Strike.
By Rowlandgate.
MEMBERS of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) yesterday issued a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an indefinite strike if Federal Government failed to resolve lingering issues associated with its Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) policy.
This is coming 24 hours after the Senior Staff of Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) commenced a 14-day warning strike in protest against the policy and the delay by the government in the re-negotiation of the 2009 SSANU-Federal Government agreement.
Rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, the polytechnic workers, under the auspices of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, expressed displeasure with the way the National Board for Technical Education had handled the scheme of service.
In a communiqué read National President of SSANIP, Philip Ogunsipe, the union said workers’ grievances include non-release of new minimum wage arrears, inconsistencies in release of third-party deductions, non-payment of COVID-19 hazard allowance for health workers, high draconian tax regime on consolidated salary and delay in promotion arrears, among others.
According to Ogunsipe, relevant agencies of government should expedite actions toward resolving these highlighted challenges or SSANIP will on an indefinite strike .
“Equally, the council wishes to frankly state that failure of the IPPIS to address these highlighted challenges within 21 days from the date of this communiqué will leave the union with no other option than to review its stance on IPPIS.
On the strength of this, the council resolved that any attempt to foist a scheme of service document on SSANIP without our input is unacceptable and therefore, would be an invitation to an atmosphere of disharmony. The council wishes to specifically and frankly state that the failure of NBTE to address this issue within 21 days from the date of this communiqué will leave the union with no other option than to declare industrial dispute,” he said.
