President Bola Tinubu has announced that the Federal Government will allow universities to recruit staff without obtaining recruitment waivers and determine how to manage their participation in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). The measures are aimed at strengthening institutional autonomy and improving efficiency in the university system.
Tinubu announced the reforms on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, in Bauchi State. Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sunny Echono, he said universities would be able to recruit personnel based on their staffing needs without seeking approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The President added that his administration was working towards a payroll system that would address the specific needs of universities. He said the changes would help institutions attract and retain qualified staff to improve teaching, research, innovation and national development.
Tinubu disclosed that 1,798 FUHSA students benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund scheme during the 2025/2026 academic session, representing 43 per cent of the institution’s student population. He said the initiative was designed to ensure that financial difficulties did not prevent qualified Nigerians from accessing higher education.
He also announced that the Federal Government had provided ₦10bn for the National Research Fund in 2026 through TETFund. He urged universities, particularly health-focused institutions, to use the funding to conduct research addressing Nigeria’s health challenges, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to staff welfare, professional development and school security.
The President commended FUHSA for establishing partnerships with international institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia. He urged the university to translate these collaborations into practical improvements in teaching, research, innovation and healthcare delivery, while congratulating its 50 pioneer graduates.
FUHSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bala Mohammed Audu, said the university had established 22 academic programmes in less than five years. He disclosed that 11 of the 13 programmes that had undergone accreditation secured full accreditation, while two received interim accreditation.
Three graduates earned first-class degrees in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and the graduating class developed more than 34 value-added nutritional products. Audu also called for a review of the extension of the nutrition programme from four to five years and thanked the Bauchi State Government and partner institutions for supporting the university’s development.
