The House of Representatives is stepping up efforts to address the ongoing challenge of the non-implementation of the presidential directive to remove universities and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Honourable Abubakar Fulata, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on University Education, made this clear during a recent meeting with the Conference of Vice Chancellors in Abuja. Fulata stressed the committee's commitment to resolving any issues that disrupt the smooth functioning of universities across the country.
He highlighted that President Bola Tinubu had already approved the removal of universities and other tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform, as part of efforts to streamline operations in the higher education sector. This presidential approval also included the reconstitution of councils and boards for higher institutions and a recent approval of a 50% subsidy on electricity tariffs for hospitals and tertiary institutions.
Despite these presidential directives, many universities are still grappling with challenges tied to IPPIS, including delays in recruitment and salary payments. Fulata expressed optimism that the non-implementation issues would soon be resolved. He cited the example of a university vice chancellor who had to navigate up to seven different government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) under the IPPIS platform before even being able to hire a cleaner.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Lilian Salami, confirmed that despite the president’s directive, universities remain dependent on the IPPIS platform for vital functions such as recruitment and salary payments. This ongoing reliance has raised concerns within the academic community, as it hampers efficiency and autonomy within the nation’s higher education system.
The call to remove universities from IPPIS dates back to a July 12 directive from the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which mandated the expeditious removal of the university system from the platform. The decision followed the federal government’s prior approval of the initiative, aimed at granting universities more flexibility in managing their internal affairs.
The delay in implementing this directive continues to stir frustration among educational leaders, but the House of Representatives has vowed to ensure that the president’s instructions are followed. With the support of legislative intervention, there is hope that this issue will soon be addressed, allowing universities to operate more effectively and independently.
As the discussions progress, stakeholders in the education sector eagerly await further developments, with the expectation that the removal of universities from IPPIS will foster a more efficient and self-sufficient higher education system across Nigeria.