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Tag: IPPIS

  • IPPIS gives reasons for non-remittance of workers NHF contribution

    IPPIS gives reasons for non-remittance of workers NHF contribution

    Mr Emma Deko, the Director in Charge of Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) says shortage of cash-backing is responsible for non-remittance of workers contribution to National Housing Fund (NHF).

    Deko said this at the resume hearing of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating non-remittance of deduction from workers salaries for NHF in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He also said sometimes, IPPIS often get directives to remit the net of workers salaries, while the gross was kept in view because of shortage of funds.

    The Director further said that IPPIS was not responsible for the payment of salaries of workers, adding that it only processed payment.

    He said in most cases, deductions from workers were not remitted because of shortage of cashbacking for approvals for wages.

    According to him, while IPPIS prepare the salaries for only federal workers, the government appointed four gateways that are responsible for the payment of the salaries to workers.

    He gave the names of the gateways which were not situated within the IPPIS to include: Nigeria Interbank Payment System (NIPS), E-Transact, Remita and Government Integrated Finance Management Information System (GIFMIS).

    “IPPIS is not in charge of every employee of the federal government. IPPIS is only covering the executive arm. So, IPPIS is not in charge of every employee of government.

    “Having said that, let me go back to the requirements from IPPIS. The first one is evidence of remittance by all stakeholders and unremitted so far by the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

    “The last part of it, the names of beneficiaries, I don’t think IPPIS can provide that because we don’t give to beneficiaries.

    “We cannot talk about evidence of remittance without deductions, because it is only when you deduct that you can remit.

    “I must be sincere that, we have been trying to collate this information because it relates as far back as 2011 to date, based on the request of this Honourable Committee,” he said.

    He said the IPPIS had been on it, but was constrained and that constraint was the fact that after deductions, it remitted and yet to pay salaries.

    He said, there are instances where the cash backing may not cover the entire salary wage bill for a particular month

    He said in that instance, ” we are directed to pay only the net, which means that all deductions will be stepped down.”

    The Chairman of the Committee, Rep Dachung Bagos however summoned the Accountant General of the Federation to appear before the committee in Aug. 31.

    This is to explain the delays in remitting deductions from workers salaries to the Federal Mortgage Bank, while the Central Bank of Nigeria is also to appear before the committee on same date.

  • How IPPIS failed to remit N26.6bn for workers in 2 years

    How IPPIS failed to remit N26.6bn for workers in 2 years

    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) says the Integrated Personal Payroll Information System (IPPIS) failed to remit N26.6 billion of workers’ contributory funds in two years.

    Mr Madu Hamman, Managing Director of FMBN, said this on Thursday in Abuja while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad hoc committee probing the non-remittance to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and Utilisation.

    According to him, from October to December 2022 there were 40 per cent unremitted payments to FMBN resulting from revenue drive by the Federal Government and a total of N11.630 billion was involved.

    “From January to December 2022, N11.587 billion was not remitted as backlog payments for MDAs from IPPIS, while N3. 356 billion was not remitted from April to July 2021 as outstanding failed payments for 2021 from IPPIS,” he said.

    Hamman explained that some NHF payments meant to be paid to FMBN as housing contributions had been wrongly made into the Federal Government Loan and Scholarships Board, adding that 14 MDAs were affected by the wrong payments.

    He said all contributors were eligible for a full refund of their contribution over the years including accrued interest of 2 per cent upon retirement.

    Others, he said, were by attainment of 60 years or inability to continue due to incapacitation or death, adding that FMBN had refunded N66.678 billion to 444,637 beneficiaries.

    Speaking on projects executed through various means, Hamman said, FMBN ensured it gave loans to register members of the association of developers.

    He said that FMBN also had the regular primary mortgage bank from interested individuals where it disbursed N139.6 billion to 24,332 beneficiaries.

    On the ministerial pilot scheme, he said the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing provided land for those on the scheme and it had spent N38 billion to build 5,443 units of housing.

    Reacting to the allegations, Mr Ekwem Dem, Deputy Director, IPPIS in the Office of the Accountant General said, ” On our own part, we are just hearing some of these allegations.”

    He said, for instance, the ‘no work no pay’ for members of ASUU remittances was still hanging, adding that there was a need for a reconciliation window, “so we can see the area of convergence”

    Rep. Dachung Bagos, the Chairman of the Committee, said it would go on oversight of some of the projects claimed to have been executed by FMBN and where they were located.

    “We are going to do some random checks to see the utilisation of this work, we are going to oversight all these projects

    ”We need to know why the Nigerian civil servants are not given what is due to them, even if we have to go with a tricycle; we will go.

    ”Some of us are engineers. We are going to receive some of these things, we must get value for our naira and Nigerians must get value for their money,” the chairman said.

    On Wednesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened to pull out civil servants from the NHF contributory funds over the non-remittance of deductions made.

    President of NLC, Joe Ajaero made the threat while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Non-Remittance to the NHF and Utilisation of the Funds from 2011 till Date.

    According to Ajaero FBN had refused to send alerts of how much civil servants have contributed including their monthly deductions.

    He urged the lawmakers to take drastic steps to remove the encumbrances to affordable and quality housing to millions of Nigerians especially workers who make the most contributions to the NHF.

    This according to him is as
    identified in the memorandum and other memoranda submitted to the committee.

    He said that the immediate past Managing Director of FMBN Mr Ahmed Dangiwa who is now the Minister of Housing and Urban Development said he left behind N120 billion in the coffers of
    the bank.

  • Job racketeering: How we were paid salaries without working with any agency

    Job racketeering: How we were paid salaries without working with any agency

    Fourteen persons on Monday told a House of Representatives ad hoc committee how they were receiving salaries from the federal government without working with any agency.

    The ad-hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi is investigating job racketeering by ministries, departments and agencies and also mismanagement of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS).

    The beneficiaries also told the committee that they paid money to Haruna Kolo, a former IPPIS desk officer and chief of protocol to Muheeba Dankaka, chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), for job offers.

    TheCable reported how Kolo had alleged that job seekers paid millions of naira into his personal accounts for him to take to Dankaka.

    The FCC chairperson has denied any wrongdoing, alleging that it is corruption that is fighting back.

    Gbadamosi Jalo, one of the beneficiaries, said Kolo took him to the IPPIS office and registered him on its portal, adding that he had been receiving salaries since then.

    Jalo told the committee he had not been assigned to any government ministry, department or agency — but was given an appointment letter supposedly issued by the National Institute of Oceanography.

    He further told the panel that one Gambo Yisha’u, driver to the commissioner representing Taraba at the FCC also confirmed to him that such money ended up with the chairperson.

    Twelve other witnesses made similar submissions alleging that they paid money to Kolo, but had not been posted to any ministry, department or agency of government.

    While speaking, Gagdi said the witnesses were invited by the committee to know about their statements of account and payment to Kolo.

    Gagdi reiterated that the panel would get to the root of the matter and recommend appropriate sanctions.

    Meanwhile, Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), also explained to the committee why the examination body employed 300 people without advertising.

    Oloyede said the recruitment of the 300 people was done to fill vacancies in the board created by the retirement of some members of staff.

    Members of the committee alleged that the examination body had been undertaking employment without due process of advertisement and shortlisting qualified job seekers before letters are issued.

    The lawmakers noted that the agency had been getting waivers for the recruitment of staff yet it failed to adhere to the provisions of the law on non-engagement of more than 100 staff annually.

  • Reps issue arrest warrant on ex FCC, IPPIS desk officer

    Reps issue arrest warrant on ex FCC, IPPIS desk officer

    The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating employment racketeering in MDAs on Thursday issued warrant of arrest on Mr Haruna Kolo, a former staff of Federal Characters Commission (FCC) and IPPIS desk officer.

    Kolo who is now a staff of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) had appeared before the Committee on July 7, over allegations bothering on selling of job slots.

    Kolo said he did in collaboration with the Chairman of the Commission, Mrs Farida  Dankaka during his appearance, admitting to collecting money for employment on behalf of the Chairman.

    Kolo had also expressed fear for his safety as he said that Dankaka should be held responsible if anything happened to him.

    He has however failed to honour the invitation of the committee to appear in subsequent hearings on July 8 and and 9.

    Also AMCON failed to turn up for the probe despite invitations to them.

    Rep Yusuf Gagdi, the chairman of the committee said a warrant of arrest would be issued against Kolo, adding that he would be brought in by the security agencies.

    The chairman also decried the attitude of some MDAs for avoiding the probe, adding that there would be sanctioned henceforth for any agency that failed to honour the invitation of the committee.

    “We have made our position very clear and we have resolved to further communicate through newspaper for these agencies to make sure they have cause appearance before this committee.

    ”We are going to make our position very public in various dailies and televisions stations beginning from tomorrow giving agencies the last warning that they should appear before this committee on Monday.

    ”All our witnesses that we have equally asked them to be here are going to appear before us on Aug 14 and 15  in continuation to this hearing.

    He said MDAs would begin to see the other side of the committee from Aug 14 by th

    He said, for Kolo, the position of this committee was that he would lose his freedom, adding that it would issue a warrant of arrest on Kolo and compel security agencies to present him before it.

  • Job racketeering: Reps summon AGF, DG IPPIS, Kolo others to appear unfailingly tomorrow

    Job racketeering: Reps summon AGF, DG IPPIS, Kolo others to appear unfailingly tomorrow

    … or risk arrest

    …direct AMCON to produce Kolo dead or alive for the committee

     

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Accountant General of the Federation, Director, Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and former desk officer of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Haruna Kolo, to appear unfailing before the adhoc committee investigating job racketeering in Ministries, Departments and Agencies on Thursday August 10.

    The Chairman of the committee also directed the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) to produce Kolo unfailingly on Thursday, August 10 at 10am to give further clarification on allegations made by him against the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Farida Dankaka and others.

    This was the resolution at the continued hearing of the House Adhoc Committee to investigate federal ministries, departments and agencies, Parastatals, and tertiary institutions on mismanagement of personnel recruitment, employment racketeering and gross mismanagement of IPPIS on Wednesday in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls Haruna Kolo had earlier appeared before the House Ad-hoc Committee where he admitted collecting money from job seekers to offer them employment, amounting to N75 million on the instruction of the FCC Chairman, Dankaka.

    After the revelations, Kolo was asked by the committee to appear for further interrogation on Tuesday.

    Findings by the Committee revealed that Kolo is presently working with AMCON.

    He had appeared before the Committee on Monday when he made the allegation that he was collecting money on behalf of the Chairman but however failed to honour the invitation of the Committee to appear in subsequent hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    During the hearing on Wednesday, the Chairman of the panel Yusuf Gagdi, said Kolo must substantiate his allegations and that all those invited must all appear before the Committee or face sanctions as provided by the law.

    According to him, the Committee will not tolerate agencies that belittle the powers of the Nigeria people by refusing to honour the invitation of the committee

    Gagdi said, “The Committee is in a dilemma why the IPPIS is absconding from the sitting. The Desk Officers of IPPIS Head of Service and Budget Office, why are they absconding? We have interacted with the Accountant General of the Federation and demanded that the IPPIS should post two persons here. The IPPIS that are capturing, why was Kolo so comfortable to take people at will to the IPPIS office for capture. Clerk, summon the Accountant General and the Director of the IPPIS to be here tomorrow at 10am. I don’t know why they are running away.

    “Secondly, we are equally confused but we have a solution as to why would Kolo come here, he got a notice for 12 o’clock and one o’clock he is in this hall. Only for us to ask him to return yesterday and to ask him to be here today and he absconded. I will sign a letter officially to AMCON to produce Kolo tomorrow by 10 am.

    “At least we have given the benefit of the doubt twice. I think it is better Kolo listen to us and appear here, unless he is acting a script to misguide this proceeding and send lies across the federation. Let him come. We are interacting. There is nobody here that was intimidated. We are to represent Nigerian people, the good, the bad and the ugly. We owe everyone the duty of care.

    “Clerk, call AMCON on the phone and send a text to AMCON, let them come here with Kolo. AMCON was supposed to appear before us today. Why are they not appearing? Do they know something about what Kolo is doing and why they admitted him in AMCON?

    “We would go to the root of this matter no matter how the agencies claim to be smart or run away, they must come here. We must account to the Nigerian people what we are doing in all the various institutions that positions of trust given to us. So AMCON should come. Kolo should appear tomorrow otherwise we would exercise our constitutional powers on Kolo and any other agencies that fail to appear before this committee from tomorrow.”

    Gagdi also accused government agencies of committing fraud through waivers to bypass publicly advertising for employment.

    “There is no agency in Nigeria that would exonerate itself of some of these defects of favouritism, nepotism and what have you. Waiver is a fraud pending our recommendation from the House of Representatives because agencies are hiding under waiver to recruit their family members, friends, those that give them money, to sell slots, etcetera.

    “No agency has any reason not to advertise vacancies for recruitment. But every agency does not want to advertise. Why? You recruit 100, 200, 300, 900, 100, splitting it into three instalments without going to the public to tell Nigerians that they have vacancies and are inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for such things. So take it or leave it, agencies are hiding under waivers to perpetuate employment racketeering and other employment related fraud. That is our position. Because there is no agency that would appear here that would not give you a certificate of waiver. Most of the agencies would not bring even a one paged advert in any national daily for its recruitment. So it is a fraud.

    A member of the Committee, Hon Amobi Godwin Ogar, Abia, also government agencies were deliberately seeking waivers to corrupt the proper process of employment.

    He said, “From the report that you have submitted on the request for waiver, I noticed that not only your agency, but the majority of the agencies they use this waiver on advertisement to cause this employment racketeering. For me I think it is deliberate. So I want to ask your commission, why refusing to comply with the set up rule to advertise recruitment in respect for the right of applicants.

    “This will promote maximum participation and provision of a wider scope for the selection of the best. Because when you keep requesting for a waiver on advertisement that means something is wrong somewhere and that is the problem we are facing in this country. I think it has come to the time we should be doing things right, so that those that do not have people can be able to get jobs because through these waivers, you will do your personal arrangement and deprive good Nigerians the opportunity to get jobs.”

    Meanwhile, the driver and personal assistant of the FCC Commissioner for Taraba State, Armayau Abubakar, who appeared before the Committee on Wednesday.

    The driver, Yishau Gambo, admitted he worked with Kolo to sell employment to some persons.

    The PA, Abdulraman Ibrahim said his Boss asked him to submit his CV for employment.

    He said he had gotten his employment letter in 2023 but was yet to be captured.

    He denied being part of those that were employed in 2022 as alleged by Kolo.

    The Committee directed him to bring the employment letter he was given the following day (Thursday).

  • Reps summon DG Budget Office, HoS, CSC Chairman over job racketeering

    Reps summon DG Budget Office, HoS, CSC Chairman over job racketeering

    The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating employment racketeering in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government has summoned the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF) to appear before it on July 27.

    Others invited included the Director General of Budget Office and the Chairman, Civil Service Commission (CSC) over mismanagement of personnel recruitment, and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    The probe also extended to tertiarty institutions of Federal Governemnt.
    The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, issued the summon during the investigative hearing in Abuja on Wednesday.
    Gagdi assured that no stone would be left unturned in dealing with the problem of personnel recruitment, employment racketeering and the mismanagement of the IPPIS.
    He also assured that the committee would do a comprehensive job, adding that anyone found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

     

  • Alleged IPPIS scam: SSANU urges FG to merge payment platforms

    Alleged IPPIS scam: SSANU urges FG to merge payment platforms

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to consider merging the payment platforms developed by the different unions in the University System to address peculiarities.

    Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU National President, made the call in a communique issued  on Monday in Abuja at the end the union’s 44th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Michael Okpara University, Abia.

    Ibrahim said NEC in session noted that the merger had become necessary due to the recent fraud in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    It would also be recalled that the university workers had blamed inconsistencies and the failure of the IPPIS to capture the peculiarities of the university system for their rejection.

    To address the peculiarities, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)  had developed  the University Transparency Accountability System(UTAS)for the payment of salaries and allowances of University lecturers.

    Also, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities(NASU)  had developed the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System (U3PS) to address its own issues.

    According to him.  IPPIS is being used for personal enrichment of staff of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to the detriment of our members and the Federal Government.

    “It is on record that the payment platform is fraught with the same corruption that Federal Government claims it wants to fight with it.

    “NEC in session is demanding that Federal Government should consider merging the payment platforms developed by ASUU (UTAS) and that of JAC of SSANU and NASU (U3PS), since it is on record that the platforms are capable of addressing the peculiarities of the University system,” he said.

    He also said NEC had renewed its call on the Federal government to urgently pay the four  months withheld salaries owed to its members, in the interest of industrial harmony in the country’s tertiary education sector.

    Ibrahim  added that,  let it be known to government that our members are yet to recover from the effect of the hardship caused by the withholding of their four months salaries, and may not recover from it unless government does something about it.

    “NEC in session views government posture and position on the matter as unfair and unfortunate. We are well aware that salaries for those months were prepared.

    “NEC therefore call on government to urgently pay the arrears of our members’ withheld salaries without further delay, ” he said.

    He further said NEC acknowledged the demise of the Chairman of the Government Team,  Prof Nimi Briggs and therefore called on government to reconstitute a new Committee for the renegotiation of the SSANU/FGN 2009 Agreement as the issue was long overdue.

    He added that, SSANU has earnestly offered itself for the renegotiation process to commence and awaits the invitation of the Federal Government on the issue.

    SSANU president said NEC had called on government to urgently commence payment of  arreas of  minimum wage implementation since 2018 to some of its members.

    Ibrahim said the members include the Federal University Otuoke, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Federal University, Dutsima, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Federal University, Gashua, Yobe, Federal University Kashere, University of Maiduguri.

    He said others are Modibo Adamawa University, Yola, University of Benin, Benin, College of Medicine, of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba and University of Calabar.

    He also said  government had promised to release the sum of N50 billion for payment of outstanding Earned Allowances to Universities and Inter-University Centres.

    He also said the agreement was yet to be fulfilled. NEC in session urged  government to release funds for payment of the allowances without further delay as  it was provided for in the 2023 budget.

    “ NEC in session vehemently condemns the recent arbitrary and blanket dissolution of Governing Councils of Federal Universities by the Federal Government.

    ” This action is illegal, inimical to the growth and proper functioning and management of Universities in Nigeria, as the appointment of the Governing Councils are tenured in line with the extant laws as gazetted.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Law also provides that Governing Councils can only be dissolved on proven cases of corruption and incompetence,”he said.

    He said NEC also demanded that the  Councils of universities should be allowed to perform their functions devoid of interference by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation or its agents for that matter.

    He added that SSANU is not averse to the introduction of the Student Loan to deserving students who are desirous of higher education and that NEC frowns at the conditions and modalities of accessing the Loan.

    “NEC therefore requests government yo review the conditions for the acquisition of the Loan to enable interested students to access and repay same,”he said.

  • IPPIS: AGF meets service providers, calls for permanent solution to challenges

    IPPIS: AGF meets service providers, calls for permanent solution to challenges

    The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein has urged the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) service to permanently resolve challenges in the payroll platform.

    According to a statement issued by Mr Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press, OAGF on Sunday in Abuja, Madein made the call at a meeting with IPPIS service providers in Abuja.

    She said that the Office of the OAGF had initiated engagement with the service providers and other stakeholders as part of strategies to find permanent solutions to challenges in the operations of IPPIS.

    The OAGF had blamed technical glitches in its paynent platforms for the delay in payment of June salaries of federal civil servants.

    According to Madein, glitches in IPPIS are worrisome to the government, and it is imperative to entrench efficiency in the operations of the payroll system to justify government’s huge investment in the project.

    “The OAGF is determined to consolidate on the gains of the IPPIS and will work assiduously to maintain an efficient and trustworthy payroll system for the country.

    “We have taken notice of the challenges in IPPIS and we will do everything possible, not only to resolve them, but to forestall future occurrence, ” the AGF said.

    She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to IPPIS, adding that there was no going back to the analogue payroll system.

    According to her, all that is necessary must be done to move forward.

    Madein called for continuous interaction and collaboration between stakeholders in IPPIS.

    She also constituted a technical committee comprising officers from the OAGF and the IPPIS service providers to find ways of avoiding future technical glitches that could delay payment of salaries.

  • Delay in salary payment: Senate investigates alleged bribery of IPPIS officials

    Delay in salary payment: Senate investigates alleged bribery of IPPIS officials

    The Senate is investigating allegations of bribery and corruption of staff of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) officials at various universities.

    The alleged action by the officials had resulted to delayed capturing and payment of staff of Federal Government-owned universities who were recruited as far back as 2020.

    The resolution followed a motion by sponsored by Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra) during Wednesday’s plenary.

    The motion was tagged “Urgent Need to Investigate the Alarming Cases of Delays in Payment and Allegations of Corruption associated with the Capturing and Payment of newly recruited University Staff under (IPPIS)” .

    Ubah recalled that the system was introduced by the Federal Government in 2007 as a reform measure aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness in the storage of federal government employee records.

    “And also administration of their monthly payroll in such a manner as to guarantee confidence in staff emolument costs and budgeting.

    “The primary motive for the introduction of IPPIS was to take advantage of existing ICT on personnel and payroll management in other parts of the world.

    “So as to ensure that ghost workers are eliminated while bona fide Federal Government employees are paid accurately and timely.”

    He further said that since its introduction in 2007, over two million federal government employees across 696 MDAs, including some staff of federal government-owned universities, had been reportedly captured on the IPPIS platform.

    “The use of IPPIS for storage of personnel records and management of staff payroll in those universities was a thorny issue between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the recently suspended strike embarked upon by ASUU.

    “While the government insisted that IPPIS remains the best personnel records and payroll management system to be used for storage of records and management of payroll of university staff.

    “The union took a different position, recommending the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as an alternative that is most suitable for universities particularly.

    “While the government and ASUU were unable to reach an agreement regarding which of the two payment platforms to be adopted for management of university staff payroll.

    “Recent allegations of bribery, corruption and delayed capturing and payment of some university staff recruited as far back as in 2020 through the IPPIS has called for urgent investigation of those irregularities,” Ubah said.

    He said that this was because of untold hardship caused to affected university staff and their families.

    “Some of the affected staff cutting across many universities have been alleged to bribe IPPIS officials for the purpose of getting captured on the platform.”

    In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said: “When the final report of the investigation comes, we will be very glad to look at them.

    “This is because the issues are very germane; they touch on the lives of the future generation.

    “When we don’t put the educational system right, it means we will be increasing insecurity in the future because of the kind of products that will come out from the various universities.

    “When the teachers are not happy, their output will also be limited and this will impede the growth of education in the country,” said Akpabio.

  • Anti-graft agencies launch probe into alleged IPPIS padding by OAGF staff member

    Anti-graft agencies launch probe into alleged IPPIS padding by OAGF staff member

    The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has suspended a staff member allegedly involved in the padding of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

    The Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Bawa Mokwa, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    He said that the OAGF had also launched an investigation into the matter.

    According to him, there was no immediate evidence of infractions before the office, yet but thorough investigations have been launched to unearth the facts around the allegations.

    Mr Mokwa said that necessary steps were being taken to strengthen the controls around the IPPIS.

    The statement read in.part, “The OAGF is in receipt of enquiries over alleged “salary padding” on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) involving some unspecified Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).

    “This is to inform the general (sic) public that there is no evidence of “salary padding” before the OAGF at this time; however, the office is aware of reported breach of the IPPIS third party payment protocol at an Institute outside Abuja.

    “The incident has since been reported to, and is being investigated by relevant anti-corruption, security and regulatory agencies.

    “In the meantime, a staff (member) suspected to be connected with the breach has been suspended to allow for thorough investigation.

    “All necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the controls around the IPPIS payment platform and an independent forensic audit of the entire payroll system is underway to ascertain if the reported breach is isolated or widespread.”