Tinubu grants federal varsities more autonomy, removes them from IPPIS to GIFMIS
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has removed federal universities from the requirement to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), saying the move will strengthen their autonomy and help them meet their manpower needs more efficiently.
The President, who is Visitor to all federal universities, said the decision is documented in the recent agreements signed with university staff unions. He spoke on Saturday at the maiden convocation of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), where 50 pioneer graduands received their degrees. He was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono.
“This measure empowers the Federal Ministry of Education and university Governing Councils to discharge their respective responsibilities in staff recruitment,” he said, enabling institutions to respond more effectively to their legitimate manpower needs.
Tinubu added that the government is migrating staff of tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
He said the shift would improve payroll efficiency, transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the peculiarities of tertiary institutions.
On welfare, he said the government has signed agreements with academic and non-academic unions on the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), effective January 1, 2026.
The agreements, he said, recognise the “distinct but complementary” contributions of both categories of staff, who are “indispensable to the delivery of quality education and national development.”
Turning to FUHSA, the President said the Federal Government provided an initial N8 billion through TETFund to establish the university, after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Further investments will come through TETFund’s regular and special interventions and the 2026 budget, covering roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.
He also disclosed that N10 billion has been provided for the National Research Fund in 2026, and urged universities, especially specialised ones like FUHSA, to pursue research that addresses the country’s pressing health challenges.
Tinubu said 1,798 FUHSA students, or 43 per cent of the student population, have secured support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 session, adding that financial constraints should not keep qualified Nigerians from higher education.
Congratulating the graduands, he urged them to apply their skills to 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 charged them to uphold professionalism, integrity, compassion and service.
He commended the university’s management, staff and governing council, and urged them to build a centre of excellence in health sciences education, research and innovation. He also encouraged FUHSA to turn its partnerships with the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia into measurable gains in teaching, research and healthcare delivery.