The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and heads of colleges of Agriculture nationwide has thrown their weight behind the Academic staff union of colleges of Agriculture's (ASUCA) move to appraise the CATA funds disbursement and also exit From the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The Executive Secretary, ARCN, Dr Abubakar Adamu Dabban who applauded the move when he received the national body of the union said the move is particularly significant because it concerns an area that directly affects the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the institution and the management of its human capital.
He said, "The Federal Colleges of Agriculture occupy a strategic position within Nigeria’s agricultural development architecture. Beyond their responsibility for producing skilled manpower, these institutions contribute significantly to agricultural research, innovation, extension, entrepreneurship, technology transfer and the development of practical solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
"Today’s engagement is particularly significant because it concerns an area that directly affects the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of our institutions—the management of our most valuable resource: our human capital."
Khadijat O. Ameen (ANIPR), P9ublic Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary, ARCN made this disclosure in Abuja.
Dr Dabban who assured of the council support said, "we are committed to ensuring that this process is conducted responsibly and in a manner that protects the interests of the Federal Government, the institutions and, most importantly, the members of staff who depend on an efficient and reliable personnel administration system."
"It is therefore important that the personnel and payroll management framework supporting these institutions is sufficiently responsive to their peculiar operational realities."
"The proposed transition from IPPIS should be understood within this broader objective. It is not simply an administrative exercise or a change in payroll platform. Rather, it presents an opportunity to strengthen personnel administration, improve institutional efficiency and establish a system that better responds to the specific requirements of agricultural education, training and related institutional activities, while maintaining the principles of transparency, accountability and compliance with government regulations."
The ARCN boss emphasise that greater flexibility must go hand in hand with greater responsibility and stronger accountability hence the need for the transition to be undertaken with the highest standards of transparency, due process and financial discipline.
"It must not create room for payroll irregularities, duplication of personnel, ghost workers, unauthorised payments or financial leakages. On the contrary, the process should strengthen accountability through accurate and regularly updated staff records, comprehensive personnel verification, effective internal controls, proper authorisation procedures, periodic audits and robust digital monitoring mechanisms."
The President, National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines, (NACHCARD), Dr Chukwu O. O. Chukwu also throws his weight behind the association's call. Dr Chukwu who was represented by the Secretary of the Committee.
Dr Jude Ejike said the body will support the union in ways possible for better welfare and service delivery.
Dr Ejike said the committee support is aimed at ensuring an enhanced manpower planning, facilitate the timely replacement of critical personnel, improve staff deployment and strengthen institutional productivity.
The ASUCA National President, Comrade Dr. Kadurumba Chukwuemeka on his part while seeking the support said this will further boost the moral of lecturers in the colleges.
The Federal Colleges of Agriculture have unique staffing structures and operational requirements which comprises academic staff, technologists, instructors, extension specialists, farm managers, administrative personnel, technicians and other categories of technical and support staff whose responsibilities are often directly connected to practical agricultural training, research, extension and institutional production activities.
"It requires close collaboration among the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, the Federal Colleges of Agriculture, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and other government institutions responsible for public service administration, budgeting, finance, personnel management and payroll administration."
"Our collective responsibility is to ensure a smooth and properly coordinated transition that minimises disruption to salary administration and institutional operations, while establishing a sustainable framework for effective human-resource management."
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