Reps Take Action on Non-implementation of Directive to Remove Universities from IPPIS

The House of Representatives has pledged 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).

Rep. Abubakar Fulata, Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, revealed this during a meeting with the Conference of Vice-Chancellors in Abuja on Wednesday. Fulata emphasized the committee’s commitment to resolving any issues that could hinder the smooth operation of universities across Nigeria.

According to Fulata, President Bola Tinubu had already approved the removal of universities and other tertiary institutions from IPPIS and had reconstituted the governing councils and boards of higher education institutions. Additionally, the president recently approved a 50% subsidy on electricity tariffs for hospitals and tertiary institutions.

Fulata expressed optimism that the issue of non-implementation of the IPPIS directive would be resolved. He noted the difficulties faced by vice-chancellors, including the need to navigate multiple government agencies under the IPPIS platform for simple administrative tasks, such as hiring non-academic staff.

Prof. Lilian Salami, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), confirmed that despite the presidential directive, universities still rely on the IPPIS platform for recruitment, salary payments, and other administrative functions.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had, on July 12, instructed that the nation’s universities be promptly removed from the IPPIS platform. This directive followed an earlier approval by the federal government and was part of the resolutions reached during a council meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.