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President Bola Tinubu has removed the requirement for federal universities to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), in a move aimed at strengthening institutional autonomy and enabling universities to address their manpower needs more efficiently.
Tinubu, who is the visitor to all federal universities, disclosed this on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State, where 50 pioneer graduands received their degrees.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, the President said the reform was documented in recent agreements signed with university staff unions.
“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 also disclosed that the Federal Government was taking 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).
According to him, the transition is intended to improve payroll efficiency, transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the operational peculiarities of tertiary institutions.
He said the measures formed part of the government’s broader commitment to strengthening institutional autonomy and creating an enabling environment for effective teaching, research, innovation and service delivery.
On infrastructure development, Tinubu said the Federal Government had provided FUHSA with an initial intervention of N8 billion through TETFund to support its establishment, following the COVID-19 pandemic’s exposure of critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He added that further investments would be channelled to the university through TETFund’s regular and special interventions, alongside provisions in the 2026 national budget for roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.
The President also disclosed that N10 billion had been provided for the National Research Fund in 2026, urging universities, particularly specialised institutions such as FUHSA, to pursue research that addresses Nigeria’s pressing health challenges.
On staff welfare, he said agreements had been signed 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 explained that the agreements, covering universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, recognised the distinct but complementary roles of teaching and non-teaching personnel in delivering quality education and advancing national development.
“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.
Tinubu further revealed 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 the student loan initiative was designed to ensure that financial constraints did not prevent qualified Nigerians from pursuing higher education.
Congratulating the pioneer graduands, the President urged them to apply 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, urging them to uphold professionalism, integrity, compassion and service.
He commended the university’s management, staff and governing council for establishing the institution and challenged them to build a centre of excellence in health sciences education, research and innovation.
Tinubu 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.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the university’s growth, expressing confidence that its development would contribute to producing competent health professionals and researchers capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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