Workers of the News Agency of Nigeria have accused the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System of effecting illegal deductions on their February salaries.

In separate interviews and written complaints, the workers called for the refund of the deductions and a thorough investigation into what they said was a scam.

They accused IPPIS (the body charged with paying federal workers’ wages) of colluding with perpetrators of the scam. They urged leaders of their unions to take up the matter with the concerned authorities.

Collins Yakubu-Hammer, the acting Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist, NAN Chapel, Abuja, described the deductions as “strange, illegal and unacceptable.”

“The members of staff are not happy with these deductions. The deductions are said to be union dues, but no one is telling them the name of the union into whose accounts the monies would be paid.

“NAN staff across the country are complaining of unlawful deduction from their salaries. They are bitter. From the complaints, the figures vary. While some workers noticed a deduction of N3,000, others had as much as N11,000 taken away.

“As a union, we see this as outrageous. This is corruption and should be investigated,” Mr. Yakubu-Hammer said.

Hamza Ibrahim, a staffer in Abuja, expressed shock over the deductions since he was not a member of any union.

“I do not belong to any union in the agency. But more than N2,000 was deducted from my February salary as ‘union dues.'”

“The deduction was particularly strange because there was no indication as to which of the unions the money was remitted to. I cannot accept this.”

Cecilia Odey, a senior editor, alleged that some union leaders usually connived with IPPIS workers to effect illegal deductions on salaries of workers that were not their members.

She said, “It is criminal to deduct monies and transfer to a union that one does not belong. That is not right and certainly not acceptable.

“I call on EFCC, ICPC, DSS, and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate IPPIS on this matter. No one should be allowed to steal people’s money in these difficult times.

“This impunity should not be allowed to continue. We complain of corruption in government ministries, but look at what is happening between the unions and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. It is so shameful.

“I even heard that N11,000 was deducted from the February salary of a senior officer in the Department of Administration. We cannot keep quiet about this.” 

Benson Ezugwu, a senior editor, based in Calabar, also complained about the deductions.

“I just received my February salary and discovered a shortage of about N3,000. I want to know if anybody noticed such fraudulent union dues deduction.

“We are journalists and we pay our dues directly to the NUJ, so I don’t know any other union that is after my salary.”

Sam Odita, a NAN editor in Umuahia, added, “I discovered that N4,489.97 was chopped off as ‘CONPSS UNION DUES’ in my February salary.

“I was made to understand that the deduction was made by a certain union. I do not belong to this body, so NUJ, NAN Chapel, should please step in to recover my money.” 

Paul Aliyu, a senior accountant in the agency, alleged that a particular union’s leadership had consistently conspired with IPPIS to defraud workers through unauthorised deductions.

“The said union has accumulated much money through such dubious means. Its officials keep flying to Dubai and other parts of the world on vacation and live lavish lifestyles,” said Mr. Aliyu.

Reacting to the development, the Director of IPPIS, Benjamin Nsikak, said the unit dealt with a mass of data and might not know what caused the deductions.

“An official letter should be written to IPPIS on the matter. If we have such letter, we shall look into the said deductions so as to determine what happened.”