The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, has urged stakeholders involved in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to intensify reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s public payroll administration.
The AGF made the call during the opening session of a three-day retreat on the implementation of the system held in Abuja, where he stressed the need for a critical review of operations to strengthen service delivery across the public sector.
According to him, the retreat was convened to provide a structured platform for assessing progress and addressing gaps in the system.
“The retreat was carefully structured to achieve key objectives, including the review and analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) associated with IPPIS implementation,” Ogunjimi said.
He added that the engagement was also designed to promote collaboration among stakeholders and improve coordination within the payroll management ecosystem.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) noted that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance the efficiency of public financial management systems through digital tools and reforms.
Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System was highlighted as a central pillar in the Federal Government’s drive to centralise personnel records, reduce leakages, and improve pension and administrative processes.
Ogunjimi acknowledged that while notable progress has been made, implementation challenges still exist.
“While we acknowledge the significant progress made so far, we are equally mindful of the challenges encountered during implementation, including gaps among users,” he said.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the retreat to strengthen the system and make it more reliable for public service operations.
In his remarks, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, described the retreat as timely, noting that it provides a platform for reflection and continuous improvement in public sector reforms.
Oyedele stated that IPPIS has contributed significantly to reducing payroll fraud and strengthening data integrity in the civil service.
“IPPIS remains one of the most impactful public sector reform initiatives, having reduced leakages and incidences of ghost workers, strengthened personnel data integrity, and enhanced fiscal discipline,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing digital transformation and transparency in public financial management.
Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the retreat as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening the link between human resource data integrity and payroll accuracy.
She noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the civil service is undergoing a transformation focused on efficiency, productivity, transparency, and digitalisation.
“Every officer involved in IPPIS must therefore understand the weight of the responsibility placed upon them. You are not merely processing data. You are protecting public funds,” she said.
Dr. Walson-Jack further explained that the government is working toward a fully integrated personnel management system covering the entire employee lifecycle, from entry into service to retirement.
She called for stronger collaboration among institutions within the IPPIS ecosystem, as well as timely data updates and clearer procedures to ensure effectiveness.
The retreat is expected to produce actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening implementation and improving overall service delivery within Nigeria’s payroll system.
