Setting the Record Straight
IPPIS and Tertiary Institutions
In a concerning development, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) continues to enroll employees of tertiary institutions, despite the Federal Government’s directive to remove these institutions from the platform.
This action contradicts the government’s commitment to granting greater autonomy to tertiary institutions and improving efficiency in payroll management.
Background
At its meeting on December 20, 2023, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the removal of public tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced that authorities of these institutions would henceforth be responsible for managing and paying their personnel directly.
New Guidelines
Subsequently, the Accountant-General of the Federation issued clear guidelines outlining the transition process. While the October 2024 payroll was still processed through IPPIS, institutions were to begin handling their payroll independently from November 2024. The IPPIS department was only to verify these records, with actual disbursement of funds to be made via the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Discrepancy
However, credible reports reveal that staff of the Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, were verified and onboarded on the IPPIS platform as recently as February 2025—long after the directive was meant to have taken effect. This raises serious concerns about the fidelity of implementation, possible defiance of presidential directives, and the risk of reintroducing ghost workers into the system.
Conclusion
The continued enrollment of tertiary institution staff on IPPIS, in direct contradiction of the Federal Government’s directive, undermines efforts to grant autonomy, enhance accountability, and fulfill the “Hope Alive” agenda of Mr. President, which aims to reposition tertiary education for national development.
It is imperative that this matter be urgently investigated and that those responsible for flouting presidential orders are held accountable. The integrity of governance lies in the faithful execution of its own policies.
Signed:
Concerned Independent Monitors of Tertiary Institutions on Good Governance
