Over 480 MDAs, 685,000 Personnel Receiving Salaries On IPPIS Platform, Says AGF

AGF, Ahmed Idris

*Set To Migrate Military, Clarifies Hiccup With Nigerian Police Migration

The Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) platform has harvested  about 480 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and over 685,000 personnel being paid monthly salaries without hitches.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, made this disclosure while  expressing the commitment of the Treasury under his leadership to fully implement all the Public Finance Management (PFM) reforms, particularly the IPPIS.

He spoke while recieving the National Coordinator and Chief Executive officer of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli and the management Team of SERVICOM in his office, Abuja.

He clarified the alleged problems being faced by the office on the enrollement of the Nigeria police force  on the IPPIS platform as plans are being completed to commence migration of  the military in the IPPIS plaform.

He said such hiccups were initial issues which were being resolved.

“On that  IPPIS, we have presently, about 480 MDAs and over 685,000 personnel being paid without hitches or complaints, why will it be only the police that are complaining?”, Idris said.

He explained  that since the Nigeria police just migrated their salaries to the IPPIS platform, and given their numerical strength and other peculiarities associated with the Nigerian police, there are  bound to be some challenges.

According to him, “these challenges  are being resolved through the multiple help desks established in the  Treasury  and other police commands across the nation”.

On the issue of shortfalls in payments, the Accountant General of the Federation explained that these may not be unconnected to a number of statutory deductions which are in the plaform.

These include the  National Housing Fund, (NHF) which is 2.5 percent of basic and tax which is also calculated according to one’s earnings, but were  previously not properly deducted.

Idris assured that his office being a service oriented organisation, whose dual role as the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Government, is very committed  to delivering on Government’s plans and programmes.

“Our implementation of the public finance management (PFM) reforms; IPPIS, TSA, GIFMIS and IPSAS just to mention a few, which is largely  being driven by information and communication technology (ICT), is a clear demonstration of our commitment to efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in delivering service in line with international best practice”, he stressed in a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations,
Oise D Johnson.

Further, Mr. Idris reassured Nigerians, especially those working in the public service, of the commitment of the Treasury to partner with all stakeholders to actualise a seamless implementation of the IPPIS.

He therfore called for the understanding and corporation of all stakeholders to improve public finance management in the country.

Earlier in her address, the SERVICOM Coordiantor, Mrs. Akajemeila expressed satisfaction with the activities of the Accountant-General of the Federation in the discharge of his duties.

She said: “We want to appreciate and commend you for the timely release of funds and salaries and for the good job you are doing to entrench transparency and accountability in the runing of government business.

“We also appreciate all the reforms which you are implementing and we attest that they  are in line with the SERVICOM principles and practices, transaprency, improved efficiency, service delivery and value for money”.

Mrs. Akajemelia further revealed  that in view of the observations they have made as they monitor service delivery in the MDAs,  SERVICOM intends to institute a reward system for all MDAs that excel in delivering service for the Nigerian people.

According to her, SERVICOM will soon make public the criteria for the awards and urged all public officers to ensure that true service to the people remains their guiding principle.