Federal civil servants will now be able to apply for postings, promotions, and leave electronically, eliminating the need to move between offices to process personnel matters, following the Federal Government’s deployment of a new digital human resources system.
The Federal Government on Monday launched the Human Resource Modules of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), a platform designed to digitise staff records and personnel processes across the 508 ministries, departments, and agencies already enrolled on IPPIS.
For employees, one of the most significant changes is the elimination of the manual handling of personnel matters.
Speaking at the IPPIS Go-Live Ceremony in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the new platform would remove the influence of personal lobbying in staff postings.
“No more lobbying for posting. Post me here, post me there. I want a juicy posting, no more. It is now digitalised,” she said.
The system will manage the entire employment lifecycle of federal civil servants, covering biometric enrolment, onboarding, payroll administration, transfers, promotions, leave applications, reporting, and data analytics. According to the government, more than 1,008,800 employee records have already been migrated to the platform.
Walson-Jack said the initiative is intended to simplify work processes for employees while eliminating delays associated with paper-based personnel administration.
“We are not just unveiling a digital platform, but institutionalising a better way of managing our most important resource, which is our people, our employees,” she said.
A key component of the new system is the employee self-service portal, which enables officers to log in and update their personal records directly, replacing the traditional process of submitting forms through multiple administrative desks.
Highlighting the broader objectives of the reform, Walson-Jack said:
“This is the true value of digital transformation. Simpler processes, faster services, better information, and greater accountability. Technology must make the work of civil servants easier and strengthen the capacity of government to serve Nigerians.”
She, however, cautioned that the success of the initiative would depend on both employees and managers embracing new ways of working.
“We cannot adopt new technology while retaining inefficient practices. The platform must not become an electronic version of old bureaucracy. Processes must be simplified, responsibilities clearly defined, and unnecessary delays eliminated.”
Government officials also disclosed that the software was developed locally.
“Significantly, this solution was built by Nigerians for Nigerians,” Walson-Jack added, describing it as a reflection of the Nigeria First policy.
According to the Federal Government, the digital HR platform is expected to reduce errors and duplication, while providing comprehensive audit trails for personnel approvals across the Federal Civil Service.
