The Federal Government has issued new guidelines outlining the process for federal tertiary institutions to transition out of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.
The move, aimed at granting these institutions more autonomy and improving efficiency in payroll management, follows approval from the Federal Executive Council earlier this year.
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, the payroll for October 2024 will still be processed through the IPPIS platform, but starting in November, institutions will handle their payroll independently.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation’s IPPIS department will verify these records, and payments will be made via the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.
Madein emphasised the importance of adhering to the new guidelines, stating, “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 smooth transition, 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 these forms at the AGF’s headquarters in Abuja or any Federal Pay Office nationwide.
Also, institutions must validate and upload the bank account details of their employees onto the GIFMIS platform by the same October 21 deadline.
Madein stressed that this is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted salary payments after the exit from IPPIS.
The circular also directed institutions to compile any outstanding promotion and salary arrears for submission to the Budget Office of the Federation for resolution.
Highlighting the significance of the new measures, Madein said, “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.”
This transition has been welcomed by academic unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities which had previously criticized IPPIS for delays in payments and incorrect deductions.
They see the new arrangement as a positive step towards restoring autonomy to tertiary institutions in handling their personnel and payroll functions.
The move from IPPIS, initially implemented to streamline payroll processes and improve accountability, is expected to introduce more flexibility through the GIFMIS platform.