A RACE AGAINST TIME has begun for federal civil servants as the government has set a final deadline of February 17, 2025, for identity verification under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The move is part of efforts to eliminate ghost workers and ensure that only legitimate employees remain on the government’s payroll.
IPPIS is a centralized database system for the Nigerian public service that manages personnel records and payroll.
The Explainer gathered that the directive was issued through a memo from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), which was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday. Civil servants are required to complete their verification on the IPPIS portal using their Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN), IPPIS number, and salary account details.
A section of the memo stated: “Following the Treasury Circular with Ref. No. TRY/A6&B6/2024-OAGF/CAD/026/Vol. V/910 dated 27th June, 2024, and subsequent extension dated 16 August, 2024, I am directed to inform you that AGF has approved the extension of the OAF-IPPIS Payroll Validation Portal for an additional one week (10 – 17 February, 2025).”
The Explainer gathered that as the deadline approaches, civil servants have been scrambling to generate their TINs and update their records to avoid potential consequences.
With just days left before the final deadline, the government has warned of strict penalties for civil servants who fail to comply.
The memo further stated: “It is hereby emphasised that all employees concerned are expected to conclude the update of their payroll information on or before 12 midnight of Monday, February 17, 2025. Please note that officers who fail to avail themselves of this last opportunity may suffer some consequences which may include suspension from the payroll.”
Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been directed to ensure total compliance, with clear instructions to their financial and audit departments: “Accounting Officers, Directors/Heads of Finance & Account and Internal Audit Units of MDAs and other Arms of Government are enjoined to give this circular the widest circulation it deserves and ensure compliance.”
The Explainer notes that this verification exercise is part of broader efforts to clean up Nigeria’s federal payroll system, which has long been plagued by ghost workers and fraudulent salary payments.
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The renewed emphasis on payroll transparency follows a directive by President Bola Tinubu in 2024, which targeted cases where civil servants continued to receive salaries after relocating abroad. The President ordered such individuals to refund the money and directed that supervisors and department heads who enabled the fraud face disciplinary action.
The Explainer reported that In 2016, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) identified over 70,000 ghost workers, saving the federal government over ₦220 billion annually.
