The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has called for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to strengthen efficiency, transparency and accountability in public payroll administration.
Ogunjimi made the call at the opening of a three-day retreat on IPPIS implementation held on Thursday in Abuja.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Bawa Mokwa.
According to the AGF, the retreat was organised to provide stakeholders with a strategic platform to evaluate the current implementation of the payroll system and identify measures for improvement.
He explained that participants were expected to critically examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with the operation of IPPIS across the federal public service.
“While we acknowledge the significant progress made so far, we are equally mindful of the challenges encountered during implementation, including gaps among users,” Ogunjimi said.
He noted that the initiative aligned with the core objectives of IPPIS, particularly the centralisation of personnel records and improvement in payroll administration and pension management processes.
The AGF urged participants at the retreat to make meaningful contributions toward strengthening IPPIS into a more reliable and effective payroll management system for the Nigerian public service.
He added that the Federal Government remained committed to reforms that would improve accountability and eliminate inefficiencies in personnel management.
In his remarks, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, described IPPIS as one of the most impactful reform programmes introduced in the public sector.
According to him, the system has helped reduce payroll leakages, eliminate ghost workers and improve the integrity of personnel data within the civil service.
Oyedele said the Federal Government was determined to deepen public financial management reforms through digital transformation and enhanced transparency.
Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Didi Walson-Jack, described the retreat as a strategic initiative aimed at reinforcing the relationship between personnel data integrity and payroll accuracy.
She said the Federal Civil Service was undergoing a broad transformation under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with emphasis on efficiency, transparency, digitalisation and improved welfare for workers.
According to her, IPPIS remains central to achieving those reforms because effective public service delivery depends on accurate personnel records and credible payroll systems.
“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 records, and supporting the welfare of civil servants,” she said.
Walson-Jack explained that the long-term objective was to establish a fully integrated personnel management system capable of supporting the entire career cycle of public servants, from recruitment to retirement.
She stressed the need for stronger collaboration among all institutions connected to the IPPIS ecosystem, including timely data updates and clearer operational procedures.
According to her, the retreat further demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to deploying technology-driven reforms to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in public service delivery.
