News Investigators/ The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) says it has commenced the re-engineering of payroll processes under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for newly recruited employees.
Bawa Mokwa, Director, Press and Public Relations, OAGF, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Mokwa said the payroll process would enhance accountability, transparency and efficiency in the management of personnel records and the Federal Government payroll.
He said under the new arrangement, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as budget owners, were required to assume greater responsibility for the management and accounting of their personnel budgets and nominal rolls.
The director said a strengthened validation process had been introduced for the admission of newly recruited employees into the Federal Government payroll.
He said no newly recruited employee shall be enrolled without first being captured on the nominal roll of the relevant MDA and satisfying all prescribed validation and eligibility requirements.
Mokwa said that MDAs were required to formally submit requests for payroll admission to the OAGF, accompanied by relevant recruitment approvals, appointment letters, applicable waivers and other supporting documents.
According to him, these documents, alongside employee records, salary structures, grade levels, steps, allowances and other financial entitlements, will undergo thorough verification.
“The validation process will also cover statutory details, including Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) information, pension identification numbers, National Housing Fund (NHF) registration and tax records to ensure accurate deductions and timely remittances.
“Employee records will be forwarded to the relevant MDA for confirmation and endorsement by the Accounting Officer, Director of Human Resources, Director of Finance and Accounts, and Payroll Validating Officer before being returned to the OAGF for final processing.
“Final admission into the Federal Government payroll will be subject to satisfactory completion of all validation procedures and the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation,” he said.
Mokwa said all Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies and other relevant officers should ensure strict compliance with the new requirements.
He said any employee record with incomplete documentation or unresolved discrepancies would be deferred from payroll admission until all prescribed conditions were fulfilled.
“Officers responsible for processing and approving payroll admissions will be held accountable for any breach of the applicable rules and regulations.
“The new directive takes immediate effect and applies to all ongoing and subsequent payroll admission processes for newly recruited Federal Government employees,” he said.
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