In a significant move to bolster the autonomy and efficiency of Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions, the Federal Government has announced the removal of the requirement for these institutions to obtain waivers from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation before filling vacant positions. This development aims to streamline recruitment processes in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and monotechnic, allowing them to address staffing needs more promptly and effectively.
The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, made this disclosure during the 67th National Council on Education meeting held in Lagos. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive action in this regard, emphasizing that the autonomy of the nation’s university system must be jealously guarded. Professor Mamman stated, “We want to specially, on behalf of the entire Nigerian tertiary education and indeed Nigerians, thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the tertiary institutions out of IPPIS, and also saving the heads of these institutions from constant trips to the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation for waivers to fill gaps in their personnel need.
This policy change is expected to alleviate the chronic staff shortages that have plagued many institutions due to previous bureaucratic bottlenecks. Under the prior system, academic institutions were required to seek waivers from multiple government agencies, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Budget Office, and the Bureau of Public Procurement, before proceeding with recruitment. These procedures often led to significant delays and hindered the institutions’ ability to maintain adequate staffing levels.
The recent exemption from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) further underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing the operational independence of tertiary institutions. This move is anticipated to facilitate more efficient management of staff salaries and emoluments, addressing longstanding concerns within the academic community.
In a related development, the Federal Character Commission (FCC) has reiterated the necessity for all federal tertiary institutions to adhere strictly to the principles of federal character in their recruitment processes. The FCC emphasized that compliance is mandatory and aligns with Section 14 (B) of the Nigerian Constitution, which aims to ensure equity, fairness, and justice in public sector employment. The commission warned that any institution found violating these guidelines would face appropriate sanctions.
These initiatives reflect the Federal Government’s dedication to fostering a more autonomous and efficient educational sector, ensuring that tertiary institutions are better equipped to fulfill their mandates without undue bureaucratic constraints.
