GIFMIS: FG To Train Tertiary Institutions Bursars On Payroll Processing, Payments
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Federal Government has approved the training of University Bursars on payroll processing and payments following the exit of the tertiary institutions in the country from Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) into government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, made this known on Monday at a One-Day Stakeholders Interactive Meeting with Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts and Regulatory Bodies of Federal Institutions on Payroll Processing and Payments, held at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
He explained that the approval followed the request of the Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities for a collaborative training on the transition programme and other GIFMIS related issues.
“I have met severally with some stakeholders in the tertiary institutions. I am also, aware that series of virtual meetings were held with the bursars all in an attempt to resolve some of these issues…, despite all these steps, I still receive catalogs of complaints from the institutions,” he noted.
Mr. Ogunjimi affirmed that the Stakeholders Interactive Meeting was organized to bring all stakeholders together so as to collectively address all the associated outstanding issues.
According to him, the feedback to be generated from the meeting would be used as input in the development of the course content in the proposed training program, therefore, encouraged all institutions to prepare and attend the training on the new schedule date.
The AGF noted that the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the exit of the tertiary institutions from IPPS to GIFMIS was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s continued desire to address some of the challenges and peculiarities of the tertiary Institutions in Nigeria particularly, as it relates to processing and payments of salaries and other allowances.
He recalled that having received several complaints from Pension Fund Administrators (PFA), States Internal Revenue Services, Micro Credit organizations, Trade Unions etc among others of non-remittance of deductions, on assumption of office in March, 2025, following the fallout of the tertiary institutions transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS, an Interministerial Technical Committee was set up to develop a framework for a seamless transition of the tertiary institutions into GIFMIS.
He said the Committee members were drawn from various stakeholders in the nation’s tertiary education ecosystem, saying the Committee concluded the assignment and submitted its report with recommendations of the steps to be taken for a hitch free migration, which were subsequently approved by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy for implementation.
The report highlighted the following pivotal steps to be taken:
i. That payroll should be run for Tertiary Institutions on IPPIS Platform for the month of October, 2024
ii. That Role players from Tertiary Institutions should be created on or before 31st October, 2024 to enable them access personnel line on the GIFMIS Platforms;
iii. That individual account of staff from Tertiary Institutions should be validated and uploaded on GIFMIS Platform on or before 31st October, 2024 for seamless payment of salary;
iv. That 31st October should be the cut-off date for enrolment and other payroll transactions for Tertiary Institutions on the IPPIS platform.
v. That Tertiary Institutions should prepare Trial payroll to be checked by IPPIS and paid through the GIFMIS platform for the 2 months of November and December, 2024 to ensure effective transition with a final sign-off from IPPIS on 31st December, 2024;
vi. That all the outstanding liabilities (including failed salary payments, promotion arrears, salary arrears and third-party deductions) should be settled promptly by the Federal Government; and
vii. That tertiary institutions should comply with operational guidelines and extant rules and regulations.
However, he said the failure to comply with the recommendation to prepare a trial payroll for the remaining two (2) months (November and December) of the year 2024 along with IPPIS and the abrupt migration to GIFMIS in the last quarter of the year heightened some of the challenges experienced.
Also speaking at the event, the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Shaakaa Chira, said the gathering is not only timely but also strategic in addressing some of the most critical issues confronting public financial management in the nation’s educational institutions, particularly the challenges associated with payroll processing, salary payments, statutory and non-statutory deductions, and remittances.
While commending the accountant-general, for his proactiveness in initiating this very important engagement, Mr. Chira noted that the event was a testament to the AGF’s commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, efficiency, and value for money in government operations.
He said as the Auditor-General for the Federation, his office remains committed to supporting reforms that promote transparency, strengthen internal controls, and uphold the prudent use of public funds as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the relevant enabling Acts and Regulations.
Earlier, the Director of Funds, OAGF, Mr. Steve Ehikhamenor, said the meeting was convened to provide clarity on the transition of Federal Tertiary Institutions from IPPIS to GIFMIS for payroll processing and payment.
According to him, the meeting provides an opportunity to review the transition, discuss challenges and proffer solutions. Noting that the federal government’s decision to approve the migration to GIFMIS was based on the need for a more flexible payroll process that addresses the peculiarities of institutions.
