Army to migrate salary payment to IPPIS platform next year

The Nigerian Army will migrate its salary payment system to the Integrated Pereonnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform from the first quarter of 2017 in strict compliance with the Federal Government directive.

This was disclosed in Abuja by the Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun at the one-day seminar organised by the Army on the IPPIS.

She said the payroll system has diverse advantages as most government ministries and departments have already joined the platform reaping the benefits.

Represented by Mohammed Dikwa a senior Director in the Ministry, the Minister said the centralised payment of salaries and allowances is a window for effective transaction and timely delivery of personnel entitlements, as well as, “ensure convenience and prompt payment of remuneration, aid manpower planning and budgeting and ascertain the actual emolument of Federal Government personnel at anytime in point.”

She said though the platform has its own challenges, even though was designed to ease budgeting, planning and administrative processing of salaries and allowances, she noted that part of the efforts to address the challenges is that, “all MDAs on IPPIS have been directed to provide quarterly certification of their payroll on the platform.”

In his response, the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, while declaring the seminar opened, said directives for immediate measure towards full migration should be taken in line with the government directive.

He added: “Implementation of the IPPIS by the Nigerian army will present new challenges for the management of troops salaries and allowances”.

He expressed concern that the intricacies involved in the process would not affect the timely payment of salaries to his personnel, whom he said needs the essential ingredient to remain motivated to continue fighting the insurgents in the Northeast, even as he assured that the final onslaught against the boko haram terrorists has entered its final stage.

“I, therefore, charge the finance corps to ensure that the nuances of the transition are well understood and its implementation seamless in order to continue to sustain the morale of the fighting troops. Seamless, regular and timely payment of salaries and allowances are essential ingredients for the sustenance of morale of the troops.

“This is especially important towards the current ongoing efforts to consolidate on the gains of the counter-insurgency operations in the North Eastern part of Nigeria and indeed all other operations in the country.

“Operation rescue final which is aimed at total eradication of the insurgents from our territory and rescue all persons still being held hostage is getting the much-needed momentum in line with operational plans as directed”, Buratai said.