Abdullahi Muhammed
The federal government said Monday that there is no going back on the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for all employees in the public service.
This is coming on the heels of threats by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on a strike over the implementation of IPPIS for varsity lecturers.
Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, who disclosed this in Abuja, said government’s resolve to implement the IPPIS policy in order to sanitise the public service payroll system and enhanced data integrity.
She said this at the opening of a five-day induction training for newly recruited officers at grade level 07-10.
“Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, we have commenced the process for the complete implementation of the Human Resource Module of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the Public Service.
“The Module is designed to improve efficiency in the payroll system as well as enhance data integrity, eliminate ghost workers and consolidate staff records and management. Hence, with the steady transformation of the service to operate a more productive system, change is inevitable.
“Following the successful activation of the human resource module in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, five other Ministries namely, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Aviation, Transport, Petroleum Resources and Science and Technology are set to come on board, after which more MDAs of government will be visited for implementation till the HR module is activated service-wide,” he said.
She said induction training programme for 700 civil servants was to improve performance and efficiency. She urged the trainees to take advantage of the programme to acquire relevant skills needed to function in a global economy.
According to her, failure to induct thousands of civil servants in the past has resulted in them shifting emphasis away from theories to hands-on skills that will differentiate them from the pack.
She said the induction course marks the restoration of the service-wide induction training that has been suspended for about seven years now for lack of adequate funding.She listed the benefits of induction programmes to include saving of a lot of time and resources, reduction of employee turnover, improvement of operational efficiency, making the employee feel valued; and the establishment and promotion of good organizational communication among other benefits.
The Head of Service said even though it would be most gratifying to see some of those at the training rise to become seasoned directors, permanent secretaries or even the head of service or any other prominent office in the country, “these would not be handed over to you on a platter of gold.”
“If you have been abreast of developments in our contemporary public service, you will appreciate that the various reforms being introduced to transform the service are systematically taking root and if you are to key into the new system, you must embrace the virtues of hard work and integrity,” she said.
The Head of Service also warned the workers to eschew negative attitude that could hinder efficiency and productivity in the service.
“I’m equally delighted to further inform that after years of little or no action in service-wide Induction Trainings, as a result of funding constraints among other challenges, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is finally resuscitating Mandatory Induction Training Programmes for all newly recruited officers.
“This is in line with the Federal Government’s determination to support this new initiative to institutionalize and sustain Capacity development.
“My charge to you is ignore such attitude or mindset and work hard, go the extra mile, engage in self development, acquire skills, be confident, be courageous and don’t forget to ask questions or seek clarification in the course of your duties having in mind always that you are a talent, Nigeria’s most valuable asset and your best is yet to be discovered,” she said.