The Federal Government has introduced stricter verification requirements for newly recruited workers seeking admission into its payroll.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that this development comes as personnel costs rose by N133.94bn to N1.96tn in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding capital expenditure during the period.
The directive was announced on Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa. It applies to all ongoing and subsequent payroll admission processes under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
According to the OAGF, no newly recruited employee shall be enrolled without first being captured on the nominal roll of the relevant Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) and satisfying all prescribed validation and eligibility requirements.
CDA News Nigeria reports that personnel expenditure accounted for 20.05 per cent of the Federal Government’s total expenditure of N9.76tn, while capital expenditure represented 17.32 per cent. The Budget Office noted that funds for MDAs’ capital expenditure were not released in Q1 2026 because some MDAs were still utilizing funds from the 2025 budget.
This rising wage bill coincided with weak revenue performance. The government generated N5.08tn against a quarterly target of N9.22tn, representing a 44.93 per cent shortfall. Debt-service payments further constrained government finances, reaching N4.63tn.
The OAGF warned that incomplete documentation or unresolved discrepancies would result in the deferment of payroll admission until all conditions are satisfied. It added that officers responsible for processing and approving payroll admissions would be held accountable for any breaches.
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