Nigerian Government Grants Tertiary Institutions Exemption from IPPIS
In a significant development on Wednesday, the Federal Government announced its decision to exempt universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The approval, disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, comes after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
According to Idris, the move signifies a substantial relief for universities and other tertiary institutions, allowing them the autonomy to manage their affairs independently. He emphasized that remunerations for staff members of these institutions would no longer be processed through the IPPIS platform.
“The Council has graciously approved that. What that means is that going forward, the universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education will be taken off the IPPIS,” explained Minister Idris. “In simple language, the university authorities and other tertiary institutions will now pay their personnel from their own end instead of relying on the IPPIS.”
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, further clarified the rationale behind the decision, emphasizing that the goal is to enhance the efficient management of public educational institutions nationwide. He clarified that the move does not question the integrity of the IPPIS or other similar systems advocated by various bodies.
“The president and the Council are just concerned about the efficiency of the management of the universities, and so it has nothing to do with integrity or platform options,” said Mamman.
He highlighted concerns about Vice Chancellors having to travel to Abuja for staff enlistment on the IPPIS, stating that such practices erode the autonomy granted to universities by their governing laws.
The decision to exempt tertiary institutions from the IPPIS, introduced in October 2006 as part of the government’s reform initiatives, aims to address concerns regarding the erosion of autonomy granted to universities.
The IPPIS, initially intended for effective storage of personnel records and improved transparency in salary payments, has been expanded to cover all ministries, departments, and agencies drawing personnel costs from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The government has consistently promoted the IPPIS as a means of saving billions of Naira and enhancing transparency in salary payments.
