The Federal Government has released new guidelines that will facilitate the transition of federal tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to an independent payroll management system. This significant decision, which aims to enhance the autonomy of these institutions as well as improve payroll efficiency, follows the approval of the Federal Executive Council earlier in the year. In a circular dated October 8, 2024, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant-General of the Federation, outlined the necessary steps and procedures that institutions must follow during this transition.
According to the circular, payroll processing for the month of October 2024 will still occur through the conventional IPPIS system. However, starting from November 2024, each federal tertiary institution will be responsible for managing its own payrolls. The Accountant-General’s Office will continue to play a supervisory role, verifying the records submitted by individual institutions and ensuring that payments are made through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). Dr. Madein emphasized the importance of adherence to the new guidelines, confirming that the payroll for the transitional months will be processed in a structured manner, with verification from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
To facilitate a seamless transition, federal tertiary institutions (FTIs) are required to complete and submit the GIFMIS Enrolment Forms by October 21, 2024. These forms are critical as they grant access to the Personnel Cost Budget Line on the GIFMIS platform. Institutions are instructed to submit these forms either at the headquarters of the Accountant-General’s Office in Abuja or through any Federal Pay Office located nationwide. Additionally, they must validate and upload the payroll bank account details of their employees onto the GIFMIS platform by the same deadline. Dr. Madein highlighted that compliance with these requirements is essential to ensure uninterrupted salary payments after the shift from IPPIS.
Moreover, the guidelines stipulate that institutions must compile any outstanding promotion or salary arrears and submit these to the Budget Office of the Federation for resolution. This move underscores a systematic approach to managing financial obligations and rectifying any discrepancies that may have arisen during the tenure under IPPIS. Dr. Madein urged all tertiary institutions to comply rigorously with these operational guidelines, emphasizing that accounting officers are responsible for ensuring that the circular’s content reaches all relevant parties for strict adherence.
The transition away from IPPIS has received positive feedback from various academic unions, notably the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The union had previously expressed concerns about IPPIS, citing issues such as delays in salary payments and inaccuracies in deductions. The new payroll arrangement is seen as a progressive shift towards restoring a degree of autonomy to educational institutions in managing their payroll and personnel functions. The collective sentiments from unions reflect a broader expectation that this transition could foster a more responsive and efficient system for managing staff salaries.
Ultimately, the government’s decision to move away from IPPIS signifies an acknowledgment of the challenges encountered under that system. The implementation of the GIFMIS platform is anticipated to provide greater flexibility and improve the overall management of payroll processes within federal tertiary institutions. This shift not only represents an operational change but also aligns with a broader commitment to enhance accountability and efficiency in financial management in Nigeria’s educational sector, promising a more robust and self-sustaining framework for handling personnel matters moving forward.
