By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday declared that the fight against the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is uncalled for.

Making the declaration at the 14th convocation ceremony of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, the president, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, explained that the primary intention of IPPIS is to enhance greater efficiency, transparency and better management of universities’ finances.

According to him, the transparency sought by IPPIS should be an important moral pillar of all universities, where students are graduated based on character and learning.

Buhari enjoined all universities to be committed to the cherished values if they are to serve as moral compasses to the society.

His words: “I will not end this address without touching on IPPIS, which has been in contention and a needless one at that.

“I assure you all that IPPIS is not intended to trample upon university autonomy nor is it designed to subsume the university into the civil service.”

The President further renewed the commitment of his government to working with patriotic elements to significantly improve Nigeria’s fortune and negotiate a brighter future for all Nigerians, especially the youths.