The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), led by Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, has been accused of making fraudulent deductions from staff salaries.
According to sources, the deductions, which range from ₦70,000 to ₦90,000 and more, were discovered in the recent February salary payment. The affected staff members have expressed their strong protest and petition against these irregular, arbitrary, and unjustified deductions.
Dr. Christian Ngene, a senior staff member, lamented that these deductions have caused significant financial hardship and distress to many staff members, who are already struggling with the removal of subsidy and hike in food prices.
The affected staff members are demanding that the university management:
- Immediately stop these irregular deductions
- Refund all unauthorized deductions made to date
- Provide a clear and transparent breakdown of all salary deductions
- Engage with staff representatives to resolve this issue amicably
Failure to meet these demands may lead to industrial action. This development is reminiscent of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) advocacy for switching from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) in 2024.
The question on everyone’s mind is: Are the staff members victims of circumstance or is there more to the story? As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the affected staff members demand justice and transparency.
