The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has commenced the re-engineering of payroll processes under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to strengthen accountability, transparency and efficiency in the management of Federal Government personnel records and payroll.
The new directive requires Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to take greater responsibility for managing their personnel budgets and nominal rolls.
In a statement issued on Monday by the OAGF spokesperson, Bawa Mokwa, the Office announced that newly recruited Federal Government employees will no longer be admitted into the payroll without first being captured on the nominal roll of their respective MDAs.
The new arrangement also introduces stricter validation procedures to ensure that all recruitment and payroll records meet the required eligibility conditions.
Under the directive, MDAs are required to submit formal requests for payroll admission to the OAGF, supported by relevant recruitment approvals, appointment letters, applicable waivers and other necessary documents.
The Office explained that employees’ records, salary structures, grade levels, steps, allowances and other financial entitlements would undergo thorough verification before approval.
The validation process will also cover pension-related information, including Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) details, pension identification numbers, National Housing Fund (NHF) registration and tax records to ensure accurate deductions and timely remittances.
Following the initial verification by the OAGF, employee records will be forwarded to the relevant MDAs for confirmation and endorsement by the Accounting Officer, Director of Human Resources, Director of Finance and Accounts, and designated Payroll Validating Officer.
The documents will subsequently be returned to the OAGF for final processing.
The Accountant-General of the Federation will have the final authority to approve the admission of newly recruited employees into the Federal Government payroll after all validation requirements have been satisfactorily completed.
The OAGF has directed Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies and other relevant officials to ensure strict compliance with the new procedures.
It warned that employee records with incomplete documentation or unresolved discrepancies would be suspended from payroll admission until all requirements were fulfilled.
The Office also cautioned that officers responsible for processing and approving payroll admissions would be held accountable for any violation of the applicable rules and regulations.
The new directive takes immediate effect and applies to all ongoing and future payroll admission processes involving newly recruited Federal Government employees.
