The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has charged stakeholders to review the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and chart a course toward greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public payroll administration.
Ogunjimi gave this charge during the opening of a three-day Retreat on the implementation of IPPIS held in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the platform.
According to the AGF, the retreat is convened to provide a strategic platform for participants to critically assess the implementation of IPPIS and develop measures aimed at strengthening a more efficient, transparent, and accountable payroll management system.
He explained that the retreat was carefully structured to achieve some key objectives, including the review and analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) associated with IPPIS implementation, as well as fostering stronger collaboration and unity of purpose among stakeholders.
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The AGF stressed that while the government acknowledged the significant progress made so far, it was also mindful of the challenges encountered during implementation, including gaps among users.
Ogunjimi explained that the initiative aligned with the core objectives of IPPIS, particularly the centralisation of Federal Government personnel records and the improvement of administrative and pension-related processes.
He advised the participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the retreat and contribute meaningfully toward making IPPIS the most reliable payroll management system in the Nigerian Public Service.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, described the retreat as timely and significant as it serves as an interactive platform for reflection, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Oyedele noted that IPPIS remained 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.
According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to deepening public financial management reforms through digital transformation and transparency.
Speaking at the forum, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the Retreat as more than a technical engagement, stressing that it represents a strategic effort aimed at reinforcing the critical link between human resources data integrity and payroll accuracy.
The Head of Service further explained that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration the Federal Civil Service had been undergoing a major transformation anchored on efficiency, productivity, transparency digitalisation, performance and improved staff welfare.
According to her, the IPPIS has a central role to play in this transformation because no modern Civil Service can function effectively without accurate personnel data and credible payroll system.
She said: “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, safeguarding the credibility of government record, supporting the welfare of Civil Servants,and contributing to the national reforms Agenda.”
Walson-Jack emphasized that as Federal Government continues to implement its reform strategies, the goal is to build a fully integrated personnel management system that supports the entire employee from service entry into retirement.
She pointed out that achieving the objective will require a stronger collaboration, timely data updates clearer procedures and shared ownership among all institutions connected to the IPPIS ecosystem.
The Head of Service urged the participants to engage actively and constructively in the deliberations of the retreat and share their experiences, adding that the discussions should go beyond complaints and produce actions such that the communique issued would be practical and measurable and implementable
She noted that the Retreat underscores the Federal Government’s sustained commitment to leveraging technology-driven reforms to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public service delivery.
