‘IPPIS controversy unnecessary’

EDUCATION Rights Campaign (ERC) has described the controversy generated around the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in the public universities as needless and distracting. National Coordinator of the group, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, said the drama was unnecessary considering the huge challenges confronting university education in the country.

He said, “The controversy was unnecessary and diversionary especially considering the enormous challenges of underfunding, skyrocketing tuition fees and clampdown on democratic rights facing the education sector. On the basis of the foregoing, we demand that the Federal Government should not throw the educational system into a needless crisis by going ahead to stop the salary of lecturers who are opposed to the IPPIS, as such a step will provoke a strike, which would lead to another shutdown of the system.

While admitting that there is high level of corruption in the university system, Soweto maintained that implementation of IPPIS, without democratic control and management of schools, will not in any way curb corruption.

“If a serious and diligent investigation is carried out into the activities of universities and other educational institutions, many vice chancellors, rectors and provosts alongside with other principal officers and account officers and members of the governing councils would be found guilty. However, we do not believe that the IPPIS on its own is capable of curbing corruption and ensuring sanity, transparency and accountability not just in the public education system but also the MDAS where it has been introduced.

“We believe that only the democratic management of public schools by elected representatives of workers, students, parents and communities can begin to curb corruption in the educational system and ensure that every kobo voted actually reflects in progress of the sector. This means the governing councils of universities and boards of other educational institutions have to be reconstituted to ensure workers and students have a say and they are the ones who decide how money is spent,” he said.

Questing the moral rights of the present administration in fighting the so-called corruption, Soweto stressed.

FORMER Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Olorunfunmi Bashorun has decried the state of classrooms in the state schools, describing same as worrisome. Bashorun, who was also the first secretary to the Lagos State government spoke at a programme in honour of Mrs. Iyabo Agnes Elusakin who emerged the 2019 overall best teacher in public schools in Nigeria as well as Mrs. Abiodun Ogunniyi who also won as the 2019 best principal in education district II.

The programme was organised by Ikorodu Division of Women Forum of All Progressives Congress. (APC).