The Federal Government has released fresh guidelines detailing the transition process for federal tertiary institutions to manage their payroll independently, marking the end of their reliance on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS.
This shift aims to enhance institutional autonomy and streamline payroll management for greater efficiency. In a circular issued on October 8, 2024, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, outlined the timeline for the transition. The document stated that payroll for October 2024 will still be processed via IPPIS, while institutions will assume responsibility for their own payroll from November onward.
To ensure proper oversight, the Office of the Accountant-General’s IPPIS department will verify payroll records, with final payments being made through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS.
Dr. Madein emphasized the need for strict adherence to these guidelines, saying: “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.”
Federal tertiary institutions are required to complete and submit GIFMIS Enrolment Forms by October 21. These forms will grant access to the Personnel Cost Budget Line on the GIFMIS platform, and must be delivered to either the Accountant-General’s headquarters in Abuja or a Federal Pay Office.
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Additionally, institutions must validate and upload their employees’ bank details onto the GIFMIS platform by the same deadline to ensure seamless salary payments after the IPPIS transition.
The circular also urged institutions to submit any outstanding salary arrears or promotion entitlements to the Budget Office of the Federation for resolution.
Academic unions, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have expressed support for the new system, hailing it as a much-needed restoration of autonomy. ASUU has previously criticized IPPIS for causing delays in salary payments and making erroneous deductions.
IPPIS, introduced to improve payroll accountability, will now give way to a more flexible system under GIFMIS, which is expected to allow tertiary institutions greater control over their payroll functions while still maintaining oversight through federal mechanisms.
Dr. Madein reiterated that compliance with these operational guidelines is mandatory, adding, “the accounting officers are to ensure that the content of this circular is brought to the attention of all concerned for strict compliance.”
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