TINUBU REMOVES UNIVERSITIES FROM IPPIS, RECRUITMENT WAIVER REQUIREMENTS
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By: Muftau Fatimo
President Bola Tinubu has announced reforms aimed at strengthening the autonomy of Nigerian universities, including removing them from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and ending the requirement for recruitment waivers.
Tinubu disclosed this on Saturday during the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), in Bauchi State, where 50 pioneer students graduated from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
The President, who serves as the university’s Visitor, was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sunny Echono.
He explained that the reforms would enable universities to recruit personnel based on their staffing needs without obtaining approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to Tinubu, the Federal Government is committed to improving institutional efficiency by granting universities greater control over their recruitment processes.
He added that the government was also working towards establishing a payroll system that would accommodate the peculiarities of the university system following the decision to remove the institutions from IPPIS.
Tinubu said the measures were designed to help universities attract and retain qualified personnel, thereby improving teaching, research, innovation and national development.
The President also revealed that 1,798 FUHSA students benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) during the 2025/2026 academic session, representing 43 per cent of the institution’s student population.
He said the initiative was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing higher education.
On research funding, Tinubu disclosed that the Federal Government, through TETFund, had allocated N10 billion to the National Research Fund for 2026.
He urged universities, particularly those specialising in health sciences, to take advantage of the funding to conduct research capable of addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.
The President further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the welfare and professional development of staff in tertiary institutions. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen security through the Safe School Initiative and other interventions.
Tinubu commended FUHSA for establishing international partnerships with institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
He urged the university management to translate the collaborations into practical benefits that would enhance teaching, research, innovation and healthcare delivery.
Congratulating the 50 pioneer graduates, the President described their achievement as a significant milestone in the development of the institution, which was established to address gaps in Nigeria’s health sector that became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his remarks, FUHSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bala Mohammed Audu, disclosed that the university had established 22 academic programmes in less than five years.
Audu said 11 of the 13 programmes that had undergone accreditation received full accreditation, while the remaining two were granted interim accreditation.
He added that the university graduated 50 students from its Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, including three who earned first-class degrees.
According to the vice-chancellor, the graduates developed more than 34 value-added nutritional products during their training, some of which have commercialisation potential.
Audu also called for a review of the decision to extend the nutrition programme from four to five years under the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
He argued that the existing four-year programme had adequately equipped students with the necessary knowledge and practical skills.
The vice-chancellor expressed appreciation to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for providing the university’s campus and allocating 600 hectares of land at Dugunde for future expansion.
He also acknowledged the contributions of universities, teaching hospitals and other institutions that supported FUHSA during its take-off by providing personnel, classrooms and other essential facilities.
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