Barbara Bako, Abuja.
The Federal Government is stepping up efforts to strengthen payroll integrity and close efficiency gaps in public sector payments as stakeholders intensify reforms around the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
At a three-day retreat in Abuja, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), alongside top government stakeholders, reviewed the performance of IPPIS as part of broader efforts to improve transparency and reduce leakages in public payroll administration.
Rather than routine system updates, the engagement has been positioned as a reform checkpoint aimed at addressing long-standing implementation gaps, improving data integrity, and strengthening coordination across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, said the review was necessary to ensure that the platform delivers on its original objective of centralising personnel records and improving accountability in payroll management.
He noted that while the system has recorded progress, challenges such as user gaps and operational inconsistencies still require attention if government is to achieve a fully transparent payroll structure.
The retreat is also expected to generate a structured assessment of IPPIS using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) framework, with a focus on practical reforms rather than policy review alone.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, described the process as part of broader fiscal reforms aimed at tightening public financial management and reducing wastage.
According to him, IPPIS has played a key role in curbing ghost workers, improving personnel data quality, and supporting fiscal discipline, but requires continuous refinement to remain effective.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the reform effort goes beyond payroll systems and speaks to the broader transformation of Nigeria’s civil service under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She stressed that accurate personnel data remains central to government efficiency, noting that no modern public service can function effectively without reliable human resource and payroll systems.
She urged stakeholders to focus on actionable outcomes, stronger collaboration, and improved data management processes that can be implemented across the public service.
The retreat is expected to conclude with recommendations aimed at strengthening IPPIS operations and improving the broader framework of public financial accountability.
Good production costs money and you can support what we do. Please find our details below👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 Account name: MARKET ONLINE MEDIA Bank: UBA Acc No: 1026401930.
