President Bola Tinubu has announced steps to remove universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as part of efforts by the federal government to strengthen institutional autonomy and address the peculiar needs of tertiary institutions.
Tinubu, who disclosed this at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State, on Saturday, said the reforms were aimed at creating a more responsive and competitive university system capable of attracting and retaining the talent required to advance teaching, research, innovation and national development.
The president, who was represented by the executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sunday Echono, said the initiative formed part of his administration’s efforts to reform the operations of universities and improve institutional efficiency.
He added that the federal government had removed universities from the requirement to obtain recruitment waivers from the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to him, the ministry of education and university governing councils have been empowered to play their appropriate roles in staff recruitment, enabling institutions to respond more effectively to their legitimate manpower needs.
Tinubu, who is the visitor to FUHSA, said the institution was established by the federal government in response to gaps exposed in Nigeria’s health sector by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that the pandemic demonstrated that a strong national health system depended not only on hospitals and medical equipment but also on well-trained professionals, research capacity and institutions capable of developing solutions to emerging health challenges.
“Following its establishment, the federal government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, provided an initial intervention of N8 billion to support the take-off of the university. It is therefore particularly gratifying to see the progress that has been made within a relatively short period,” he said.
The president described the graduation of FUHSA’s pioneer students from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics as a significant milestone, demonstrating progress towards the vision behind the university’s establishment.
He assured the institution of the Federal Government’s continued support through TETFund’s normal and special interventions, particularly in infrastructure development, research facilities and staff capacity building.
Tinubu said provisions had also been made in the 2026 national budget to strengthen the university’s physical and operational capacity, including road infrastructure, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.
He added that regular overhead allocations would continue to support the day-to-day running of the institution.
On research and innovation, the President said the federal government had provided N10 billion for the National Research Fund in 2026 through TETFund.
He urged universities, particularly those specialising in health sciences, to take advantage of the funding opportunities to conduct research addressing Nigeria’s health challenges.
“Our investment in tertiary education is not limited to infrastructure. We are also strengthening research and innovation because no nation can achieve sustainable development without generating knowledge and converting that knowledge into practical solutions,” he said.
The president also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to securing educational institutions through the Safe School Initiative and other measures designed to protect students, teachers and academic communities.
He described a safe and conducive learning environment as fundamental to educational excellence, human capital development and sustainable national development.
Tinubu further acknowledged the importance of investing in the welfare and professional development of university personnel, including lecturers, researchers, administrators, technologists and other staff.
He said his administration remained committed to creating an enabling environment for staff development, improved welfare and professional growth while promoting merit, productivity and excellence across the university system.
On access to higher education, the president said the Federal Government was using the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to reduce financial barriers and enable more students to pursue tertiary education.
He disclosed that 1,798 students of FUHSA had secured NELFUND support for the 2025/2026 academic session, representing 43 per cent of the university’s student population.
According to him, the intervention would help students from financially constrained backgrounds access and remain in higher education, while strengthening education as an instrument of opportunity, social mobility and national development.
“We will continue to pursue policies that ensure that ability, determination and merit, not financial circumstance, remain the principal determinants of access to quality higher education in Nigeria,” he said.
Tinubu also commended FUHSA for establishing collaborations with internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia, as well as signing memoranda of understanding with federal and state government institutions in Nigeria.
He said the partnerships could strengthen teaching, research, innovation, capacity development and healthcare delivery.
The president urged the university’s management to sustain the collaborations and translate them into measurable outcomes that would contribute to the institution’s growth and improve its contribution to Nigeria’s health sector.
He noted that strategic partnerships could provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint research, staff and student development, technology transfer and the adoption of best practices.
Congratulating the pioneer graduands, Tinubu said their position as the first graduates of the institution carried a special responsibility to contribute to the development of the university and the country.
“Being the pioneer set also carries a special responsibility. You will be remembered not only as the first to graduate from FUHSA, but also by the contributions you make to the development of this institution and to the nation as alumni,” he said.
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