WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF WORKERS SALARIES- IPPIS                                                                 30-08-23

By: Sadiq Aminu                                                      The Director in Charge of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) Mr Emma Deko says they are not responsible for the payment of salaries or workers, but only process the payment.

Mr Deko who spoke at the resumed hearing of the House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating non remittance of deduction from workers salaries for the National House Fund, explained that in most cases, deductions from workers are not remitted because of shortage of cash backing for approvals for wages.

According to him, while IPPIS prepare the salaries for only federal workers, the government appointed four gateways that are responsible for the payment of the salaries to workers.

He gave the names of the gateways which he said are not situated within the IPPIS as Nigeria Interbank Payment System (NIPS), E-Transact, Remita and GIFMIS.

“So, like I said, IPPIS is not in charge of every employee of the federal government. IPPIS is only covering the executive arm. So, what I am trying to say is that, IPPIS is not in charge of every employee of government.

“Having said that, let me go back to the requirements from IPPIS. The first one is evidence of remittance by all stakeholders and unremitted so far by the MDAs. The last part of it, the names of beneficiaries, I don’t think IPPIS can provide that because we don’t give to beneficiaries.

“We cannot talk about evidence of remittance without deductions, because it is only when you deduct that you can remit. I must be sincere that, we have been trying to collate this information because it relates as far back as 2011 to date, based on the request of this Honourable committee.

Deko explained that since the money is in the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, when the remittances are done, the CBN is supposed to give IPPIS statements, after which they ask for the breakdown to do reconciliation as accountants.

This according to him is becoming difficult not only in IPPIS but in all the accounting cadre, because the apex bank only gives them bulk figures.

However, the committee summoned the CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation to appear before the committee on Thursday to explain the delays in remitting deductions from workers salaries to the Federal Mortgage Bank.