ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted federal universities a recruitment waiver, removing the requirement to obtain special approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) before hiring staff, in a move aimed at strengthening institutional autonomy and addressing staffing gaps across the university system.
The President announced the policy change during the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), in Bauchi State, on Saturday, October 17, 2026. He was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono.
According to the President, the reform forms part of agreements reached between the Federal Government and university staff unions. It is intended to empower the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils to make recruitment decisions based on their institutions’ staffing needs.
Tinubu said removing the additional approval requirement would enable universities to respond more efficiently to manpower shortages and improve their ability to recruit qualified academic and non-academic personnel.
Previously, federal universities could be required to obtain recruitment waivers from the OHCSF before employing new staff. The process was often criticised for contributing to delays in filling vacant positions, replacing retiring employees and recruiting additional lecturers, researchers and administrative personnel.
Under the new arrangement, universities are expected to have greater flexibility in managing recruitment in line with their operational requirements. However, the institutions will still be expected to comply with applicable public-sector regulations, approved budgets and established governance procedures.
The development comes amid longstanding concerns over staffing shortages, working conditions and funding challenges in Nigeria’s public university system.
FG Plans Transition From IPPIS to GIFMIS
Beyond recruitment, Tinubu disclosed that the Federal Government was taking steps to transition tertiary institution staff from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
The proposed transition is intended to improve payroll administration, strengthen transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the operational peculiarities of universities.
The IPPIS system has been a subject of disagreement between the Federal Government and university unions, particularly over the management of university payrolls and the autonomy of institutions in handling personnel matters.
The proposed change is expected to form part of wider efforts to address these concerns and improve the administration of federal tertiary institutions.
FG Announces Funding for Health Sciences Education
At the convocation ceremony, the President also disclosed that the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, had received an initial intervention of ₦8 billion through TETFund to support its establishment and development.
He said additional funding would be channelled to the university through TETFund’s regular and special intervention programmes, alongside provisions in the 2026 national budget for infrastructure development.
The proposed projects include roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles to improve teaching, research and administrative operations at the institution.
Tinubu further announced that ₦10 billion had been provided for the National Research Fund in the 2026 fiscal year, urging universities to prioritise research that addresses Nigeria’s development challenges, particularly in healthcare, technology and innovation.
Staff Welfare and Student Support
The President also disclosed that the Federal Government had signed agreements with academic and non-academic staff unions covering the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), effective January 1, 2026.
He said the agreements recognised the contributions of both teaching and non-teaching personnel to the effective operation of tertiary institutions.
Tinubu also revealed that 1,798 students of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, representing 43 per cent of its student population, had secured support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The student loan programme is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to higher education by providing eligible students with financial assistance.
The maiden convocation marked a significant milestone for FUHSA, which was established in 2021. Approximately 50 pioneer students graduated from the institution during the ceremony.
The recruitment waiver and proposed payroll changes represent important administrative developments for Nigeria’s federal university system. Their impact will depend on how the new arrangements are implemented, the resources available to institutions and the extent to which recruitment processes remain transparent and accountable.
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