President Bola Tinubu has removed the requirement for federal universities to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), in a move aimed at strengthening institutional autonomy and enabling universities to fill staffing gaps more efficiently.
Tinubu disclosed this on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), where 50 pioneer graduands received their degrees.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, the President said the reform was documented in recent agreements signed with university staff unions.
According to him, the measure would empower the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils to exercise their responsibilities in staff recruitment and respond more effectively to legitimate manpower needs.
“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,” he said.
The President also disclosed that the Federal Government was working to migrate staff of tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
He said the transition was expected to improve payroll efficiency, transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the operational needs of tertiary institutions.
Tinubu said the measures formed part of the government’s broader commitment to strengthening institutional autonomy and improving personnel administration to support teaching, research, innovation and service delivery.
The President disclosed that the Federal Government had provided FUHSA with an initial N8 billion intervention through TETFund to support the establishment of the university.
He said the investment followed the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to him, further funding would be channelled to the institution through TETFund’s regular and special interventions, alongside allocations in the 2026 national budget for roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.
Tinubu also announced that the Federal Government had provided N10 billion for the National Research Fund in 2026, urging universities, particularly specialised institutions such as FUHSA, to pursue research addressing the country’s pressing health challenges.
On staff welfare, the President said the government had signed agreements with academic and non-academic unions covering the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), effective January 1, 2026.
He said the agreements, which cover universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, recognised the distinct but complementary roles of teaching and non-teaching personnel in delivering quality education, advancing research and sustaining tertiary institutions.
“Both categories are indispensable to the delivery of quality education and national development,” he said.
Tinubu further disclosed that 1,798 students of FUHSA, representing 43 per cent of the institution’s student population, had secured support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 academic session.
He said the initiative was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent qualified Nigerians from accessing higher education.
Congratulating the pioneer graduands, the President urged them to apply their knowledge and skills towards improving healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.
“Your success will be measured not only by your personal achievements, but also by the positive difference you make in the lives of others,” he said, urging them to uphold professionalism, integrity, compassion and service.
He commended the university’s management, staff and governing council for establishing the institution and urged them to develop it into a centre of excellence in health sciences education, research and innovation.
The President also encouraged FUHSA to strengthen its collaborations with international institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia, and translate the partnerships into measurable improvements in teaching, research and healthcare delivery.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the university’s growth, saying its development would help produce competent health professionals and researchers capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
