The Federal Government has finally shut down the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for Federal Tertiary Institutions (FTIs).

This is even as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), has clarified that no directive has been issued to workers to change the financial institutions registered on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System(IPPIS) platform as their salary accounts.

Recently, the Federal Government approved the removal of FTIs from the IPPIS platform.

The issue of inclusion of workers of Federal tertiary institutions in the IPPIS has been a contentious one, with the workers insisting they should not be there and even embarking strike action to drive home their point.

Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Mr. Bawa Mokwa who confirmed the shutdown of the platform said, “It was only natural for the IPPIS platform for FTIs to be shut down, given the federal government’s directive to remove these institutions from the system.”

He also revealed that November salaries for FTIs will be processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

Meanwhile, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in a statement on Monday, clarifying that it has not directed the change of salary accounts of workers, said the IPPIS Office gives utmost priority to the wellbeing of workers, and will not issue any directive that will mislead, misguide or cause unnecessary panic to workers.

It explained that whenever there is an application for a change of salary account, such is always a personal decision of the worker concerned, adding that the IPPIS Office has not issued any general directive to this effect as there was no reason to do so.

The OAGF tasked financial institutions to implement necessary strategies to boost customers’ confidence and guarantee efficient fulfillment of their obligations to persons whose salaries are domiciled in such financial institutions and Nigerians.

It noted that there are agencies that are statutorily mandated to determine the health and the viability of financial institutions and expressed optimism that those agencies are up to their tasks.

The government advised workers with genuine reasons to change their salary accounts on the IPPIS platform to follow the official procedures.