The Archbishop, Province on the Niger, Anglican Communion, and bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Alexander Ibezim, has urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to resolve the deadlock resulting from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

He urged the Federal Government to reconsider the peculiarities of tertiary institutions on the matter.

The bishop stated this in a statement on Thursday in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

He called on both parties to shift grounds and resolve the issue in the interest of the students and the country at large

The Bishop’s statement read in part,

“I am unhappy our universities were shut down because of ASUU warning strike over IPPIS and I want the FG and ASUU to shift grounds and resolve this issue in the interest of the students.

“I don’t know what is different from IPPIS and UTAS which is University Transparency and Accountability Solution which the academic staff said is able to tackle the unwholesome issues around wages payment which government said IPPIS will eliminate.

“ASUU described IPPIS as a fraud. Whatever, let there be a resolution to the crisis for academic activities to resume in the Universities.

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The bishop added,

” I should think that the Federal Government needed to consider the peculiarities of tertiary Institutions academic staff both at colleges of education, polytechnics and universities during the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

“There should be no reason to deduct voluntary deductions like the National Housing Fund from the salary of staff, but failed to deduct statutory deductions like staff cooperative society contributions.

“It is sad commentary too not to pay staff on sabbatical leave and peculiar allowances like peculiar earned academic allowance, (PEAA). Already, there are alarms raised everywhere since the payment with IPPIS started.

“FG and ASUU should reach a common ground and resolve this festering crisis