In a significant development, the Federal Government has issued comprehensive guidelines outlining the process for federal tertiary institutions to transition out of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). This move aims to grant these institutions greater autonomy and enhance efficiency in payroll management, following approval from the Federal Executive Council earlier this year.
The IPPIS was initially implemented to streamline payroll processes, reduce ghost workers, and improve accountability in the public sector. However, its implementation has been plagued by criticisms from academic unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has cited delays in payments, incorrect deductions, and inflexibility as major concerns.
In response to these challenges, the Federal Government has now initiated the transition of federal tertiary institutions from IPPIS to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). This move is expected to introduce more flexibility and autonomy in payroll management.
In a circular dated October 8, 2024, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, provided details of the transition plan. According to the circular:
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“The payrolls for October 2024 for the tertiary institutions shall be processed on the IPPIS platform while that of November and December 2024 shall be processed by the institutions, checked by OAGF IPPIS, and payment made through the GIFMIS platform.”
To ensure a seamless transition, federal tertiary institutions (FTIs) must complete and submit GIFMIS Enrolment Forms by October 21, 2024. These forms enable access to the Personnel Cost Budget Line on the GIFMIS platform.
Institutions are instructed to submit the GIFMIS Enrolment Forms at the Accountant-General of the Federation’s headquarters in Abuja or any Federal Pay Office nationwide.
Additionally, institutions must:
- Validate and upload the bank account details of their employees onto the GIFMIS platform by October 21, 2024.
- Compile any outstanding promotion and salary arrears for submission to the Budget Office of the Federation for resolution.
Dr. Madein stressed the importance of adhering to these guidelines, stating:
“All tertiary institutions are enjoined to comply with these operational guidelines and other extant rules and regulations. The accounting officers are to ensure that the content of this circular is brought to the attention of all concerned for strict compliance.”
The transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS is expected to bring several benefits, including:
- Enhanced autonomy for tertiary institutions in payroll management.
- Improved efficiency and flexibility in payroll processing.
- Reduced errors and delays in payment.
- Better accountability and transparency.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has welcomed this development, seeing it as a positive step towards restoring autonomy to tertiary institutions.
The transition is scheduled to take place in the following phases:
- October 2024: Payroll processing on IPPIS platform.
- November and December 2024: Payroll processing by institutions, checked by OAGF IPPIS, and payment made through GIFMIS platform.
For further information and clarification, institutions can contact:
- Accountant-General of the Federation’s headquarters, Abuja.
- Federal Pay Offices nationwide.
Institutions can also access relevant resources and guidelines on the GIFMIS platform.
