The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research

Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) of Nigeria has berated the Federal Government over the current shortfall in the monthly personnel subvention to hospitals in the country since January 2013.

The association in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting and made

available to newsmen in Ibadan yesterday said that this had resulted in short payment of salaries , nonpayment of overtime allowances, non remittance of union check off dues and monies due to the welfare schemes such as cooperative societies as at when due.

According to the association, this is inimical to service delivery.

In the communique which was signed by its chairman, Comrade M.O. Ogundipe and acting secretary, Comrade T.M. Awo,the association while describing the situation as unacceptable, the association called on the Federal Government to immediately restore the shortfalls in order to alleviate the inconveniences being experienced.

It added that it would not hesitate to call out her members for an industrial action if the situation persists.

However, the association commended the Federal Government on the Integrated

Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) initiative that was geared towards blocking the leakages inherent in the current payment system of personnel emoluments.

While noting that the current implementation was fraught with a plethora of errors in salary payment which was unacceptable, it called on the government to do all that was necessary to perfect the IPPIS before further migration of personnel unto the system. It also commended government for the vision in setting up special intervention funds to help revamp vital sectors in the economy such as aviation, education, agriculture and solid minerals.

However, while noting that only health nation is a wealthy nation, it stressed the need for special intervention fund to revitalize the ailing health sector. It argued that only a healthy populace would be able to drive

the transformation agenda in these revamped sector, hence the need to commit more funds to develop the health sector as a matter of priority.