Nigeria’s FG Replaces IPPIS With GIFMIS For Salary Payment Despite ASUU’s Resistance

Nigeria’s Federal Government has officially deactivated the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for federal tertiary institutions to shift to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) for salary payments.

This change, effective in November, was rejected by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which claims the government’s directive violates institutional autonomy.

Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed the deactivation and explained that federal institutions must now submit payrolls in Excel format to the IPPIS department for verification before payments are processed through GIFMIS.

ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke had in October reiterated the union’s rejection of IPPIS and GIFMIS, asserting that tertiary institutions should retain financial independence, a principle he says is upheld by law.

The finances of the university should be managed by the governing council. That’s what the law says. It does not say by the accountant general’s office, Osodeke stated.

ASUU argues that the shift undermines Section 24A of the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Act 2003, which grants autonomy over employment and salary decisions to university governing councils.

The IPPIS, implemented in 2006 and expanded to include tertiary institutions by 2016, has long faced criticism from public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education for alleged bureaucratic manipulation.

ASUU initially proposed the Unified Treasury Accounting System (UTAS) as a tailored alternative, but the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) declared that UTAS failed three integrity tests.

The OAGF has advised financial institutions to improve their service quality to avoid payroll disruptions and assured that no directives require workers to change their designated salary accounts.

However, for employees opting to alter their account details, the OAGF outlined an official process to ensure smooth transitions.

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