Oct 17, 2026

Tinubu Scraps Recruitment Waiver for Federal Universities to Boost Autonomy

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Bauchi, Nigeria—October 17, 2026—President Bola Tinubu has exempted federal universities from the long-standing requirement to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

The announcement was made on Saturday during the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA) in Bauchi State, where 50 pioneer students from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics received their degrees.

Tinubu, who serves as Visitor to all federal universities, was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono.

Strengthening University Autonomy

The President said the exemption was documented in recent agreements signed with university staff unions. He described the move as part of the administration’s commitment to greater institutional efficiency and autonomy.

“This measure empowers the Federal Ministry of Education and university Governing Councils to discharge their respective responsibilities in staff recruitment, enabling institutions to respond more effectively to their legitimate manpower needs,” Tinubu stated.

He noted that the previous waiver process had created unnecessary bottlenecks, delaying the filling of critical academic and non-academic positions in many institutions.

Linked to IPPIS Exit and Payroll Reform

Tinubu also confirmed that the Federal Government has taken steps to remove universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). A new payroll arrangement better suited to the peculiarities of the university system is being developed.

The reforms, he said, are designed to help universities attract and retain qualified personnel, improve teaching and research quality, foster innovation, and contribute more effectively to national development.

Support for Students and Infrastructure

At the same event, the President disclosed that 1,798 FUHSA students—representing 43 percent of the institution’s student population—had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 academic session.

He reaffirmed the government’s determination that no qualified Nigerian should be denied higher education because of financial constraints.

Tinubu further noted that the Federal Government had provided an initial N8 billion intervention through TETFund for the establishment of FUHSA, which was created to address gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare workforce exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

University administrators and education stakeholders have long complained that the recruitment waiver system and IPPIS platform hindered timely staffing and operational flexibility.

The latest policy shift is expected to give governing councils greater freedom to address manpower shortages without repeated trips to Abuja for approvals.