Why we removed federal universities from IPPIS, recruitment waiver — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained that the Federal Government removed federal universities from the requirements to obtain recruitment waivers and participate in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to strengthen institutional autonomy and make the university system more responsive and competitive.

The President gave the explanation on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), in Bauchi State.

Tinubu, the university’s Visitor, was represented at the ceremony by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Architect Sunny S. T. Echono.

He said that under the new arrangement, the Federal Ministry of Education and the governing councils of federal universities would play their appropriate roles in staff recruitment, instead of requiring institutions to seek waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

According to him, “We are also reforming the way our universities operate. As part of our commitment to greater institutional efficiency and autonomy, the Federal Government has removed universities from the requirement to obtain recruitment waivers.”

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Tinubu also said the Federal Government had taken steps to remove universities from IPPIS to develop a payroll system that better accommodates the peculiarities of the university system.

He said the objective was to establish a university system capable of attracting and retaining the talent needed to advance teaching, research, innovation and national development.

The President added that his administration remained committed to creating an enabling environment for staff development, welfare and professional growth while promoting merit, productivity and excellence.

He noted that lecturers, researchers and administrators were central to the success of the education system and urged universities to take advantage of the reforms to build a more competitive system.

At the ceremony, 50 pioneer students of FUHSA graduated from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Tinubu described the milestone as a fulfilment of the vision behind the establishment of the university, following the gaps in the health sector exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.