President Buhari inaugurates committee to review irregularities in IPPIS, TSA, GIFMIS

The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a presidential steering committee to review Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS), the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) over irregularities.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami who inaugurated the committee on behalf of the President in Abuja is to Chair the committee.

Professor Pantami said that the systems have technical challenges which needs to be corrected.

He said the  mandate of committee is to proffer solution to the possible leakages inherent in the systems that are being exploited by evil people to divert public funds.

“This technical committee has been mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari, through a letter requesting his approval to review some of the technical processes and systems deployed in government. This committee will serve as a presidential committee with the mandate of ensuring the review of the strengths of these systems and the challenges or weaknesses.”

The Minister recalled that the process of deployment for IPPIS commenced in 2006, that of GISFMIS in 2012, while TSA commenced in 2015 accordingly.

Pantami explained that as at the time they were deployed, the provision of NITDA Act 2006 under section A of setting the standardisation of ICT deployment in federal public institutions was not followed.

He however said as a result of this, ”these three systems were not subjected to government certification and IT project clearance as encouraged by law and many other government policies. However, in spite of that, many achievements had been recorded by their deployment.For example, based on the report from the relevant institutions of government, the IPPIS saved the government over N120 billion, while TSA saved over N10 trillion for government”.

He said these records showed that government had recorded some gains, particularly in the recent allegations on the system by people who siphoned money

“It is because of this that we must identify where the challenges are if any and see how these systems can be enhanced technically. So that we will be able to consolidate the gains achieved so far and also improve on them to achieve many more successes,” he said.

The Minister  warned that any institution that fails to give access to information would be reported to President Muhammadu Buhari and thereafter sanctioned

He said, “a punishment is going to be recommended to the President for implementation.”

The committee is expected to sanitise the systems against manipulation and corrupt practices.

The committee would be supervised by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and other relevant government institutions.

Committee Members

Members of the committee include NITDA, Galaxy Backbone, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation as well as National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission.

Other are Bureau of Public Service and Reforms (BPSR) and the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.