The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has called on public officers to take a cue from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in owning up to mistakes and taking responsibility.
COEASU commended Oloyede for his sincerity and empathy in acknowledging the errors that affected the 2025 UTME results and taking steps to rectify the situation.
The union contrasted this with the attitude of some public officials who refuse to acknowledge their mistakes.
In a press release, COEASU President, Dr. Smart Olugbeko, urged public officers to emulate Oloyede’s commitment to integrity and accountability, saying that this approach would promote transparency and good governance.
“In contrast, some public officials have been known to deny responsibility for their actions, even when faced with overwhelming evidence. A notable example is the deployment of the integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which was widely criticized for its corruption and inefficiencies. Despite its flaws, the proponents of IPPIS refused to acknowledge its shortcomings.
“The IPPIS debacle highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in public service. Unlike Professor Oloyede, the proponents of IPPIS have refused to apologize for the harm caused to tertiary institutions or adopt the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) developed by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has proved to be a more reliable and efficient platform,” the statement said.
The union noted that though the Federal Government took a bold step by removing tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform and migrating them to the Government integrated Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) platform, those who benefit from the IPPIS malady have ensured that the GFMIS platform remains tied to the IPPIS system, resulting in continued unwarranted salary delays for tertiary institution staff.
“This lack of accountability is not limited to the IPPIS debacle. Many public officers who have ruined Nigeria’s economy and contributed to the insecurity plaguing the country today shamelessly collect awards for good governance and even have the audacity to teach others how to govern the country. We call on these individuals to take a cue from Professor Oloyede’s example and own up to their errors,” the union said.
