President Bola Tinubu has announced the removal of federal universities from the requirement to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
Tinubu disclosed this at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, FUHSA, on Saturday, where 50 pioneer graduands received their degrees.
The President, who is also the visitor to all Federal Universities, said the removal of the key hiring hurdle was documented in the recent agreements signed with university staff unions, aimed at strengthening the universities’ autonomy and enabling them to address their manpower needs more efficiently.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, the president said the reform would empower the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils to exercise their responsibilities in staff recruitment, allowing institutions to respond more effectively to legitimate staffing requirements.
“This measure empowers the Federal Ministry of Education and university Governing Councils to discharge their respective responsibilities in staff recruitment, enabling institutions to respond more effectively to their legitimate manpower needs,” he said.
Tinubu said the government was also working to improve personnel and payroll administration across tertiary institutions through the migration of their staff from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS.
“Similarly, the Federal Government has taken steps to migrate staff of tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to enhance payroll efficiency, improve transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the operational peculiarities of tertiary institutions.
“This measure is part of our broader commitment to strengthening institutional autonomy, improving personnel and payroll management, and creating an enabling environment for effective teaching, research, innovation and service delivery,” he said.
According to him, the transition is expected to improve payroll efficiency, transparency and accountability, while ensuring timely and accurate salary payments and accommodating the operational peculiarities of tertiary institutions.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education through infrastructure development, research funding and improved welfare for university personnel.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had provided FUHSA with an initial N8 billion intervention through TETFund to support its establishment, following the COVID-19 pandemic’s exposure of critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He said further investments would be channelled into the university through TETFund’s regular and special interventions, as well as provisions in the 2026 national budget for roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.
Tinubu also disclosed that the government had provided N10 billion for the National Research Fund in 2026, urging universities, particularly specialised institutions such as FUHSA, to pursue research capable of addressing the country’s pressing health challenges.
On staff welfare, he said the government had signed agreements with academic and non-academic unions on the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, CONTTA, effective January 1, 2026.
He said the agreements recognised the complementary roles of teaching and non-teaching personnel in delivering quality education, advancing research and sustaining the operations of tertiary institutions.
According to him, the agreements, signed with unions of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, recognise the “distinct but complementary” roles of both categories of staff in running tertiary institutions.
“These agreements recognise the distinct but complementary contributions of academic and non-teaching personnel to the effective functioning of our tertiary institutions.
“Both categories are indispensable to the delivery of quality education and national development,” he said.
The President further disclosed that 1,798 FUHSA students, representing 43 per cent of the institution’s student population, had secured support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, for the 2025/2026 academic session.
He said NELFUND was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent qualified Nigerians from pursuing higher education.
While congratulating the pioneer graduands, Tinubu urged them to deploy their knowledge and skills towards improving healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.
“Your success will be measured not only by your personal achievements, but also by the positive difference you make in the lives of others,” he said.
He urged them to uphold professionalism, integrity, compassion and service.
The President commended the university’s management, staff and governing council for establishing the institution and urged them to build a centre of excellence in health sciences education, research and innovation.
He also encouraged FUHSA to strengthen its collaborations with international institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia, and translate the partnerships into measurable improvements in teaching, research and healthcare delivery.
Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the university’s growth, saying its development would contribute to producing competent health professionals and researchers capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
