BPSR, AGF Move to Settle Severance Benefits of Disengaged Staff
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to the new Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Shamsudeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, at his office in Abuja.
The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration on public service reforms and resolving legacy severance issues.
During the meeting, Arabi congratulated Ogunjimi on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
He described it as a well-deserved achievement that reflects the new AGF’s dedication, expertise, and leadership in Nigeria’s financial management sector.
He emphasized the pivotal role of the Office of the Accountant General in Nigeria’s Public Financial Management system.
He specifically mentioned the implementation of reforms such as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Dr. Arabi highlighted the BPSR’s ongoing work in coordinating reform initiatives across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He noted the agency’s efforts in promoting e-governance, institutionalizing SERVICOM for improved service delivery, supporting the Open Government Partnership, and driving a performance-based culture within the civil service.
He also discussed the Bureau’s collaboration with the AGF’s office in settling severance packages for disengaged staff. These staff were affected by reform-related downsizing exercises between 2005 and 2010.
He noted that while some progress had been made, many cases remain unresolved. The pending issues include discrepancies in severance calculations, use of incorrect salary structures, and wrongful terminations.
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According to the BPSR DG, over N25 billion has been domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria since 2011 to address severance shortfalls. He revealed that in 2023, N332 million was disbursed to former staff of the National Bureau of Statistics and others.
In 2024, an additional N1.3 billion was paid to disengaged staff of the Nigeria Immigration Service. He added that a fresh verification report on remaining cases involving former Immigration staff would be submitted next week for final processing and payment.
Dr. Arabi also disclosed that the Bureau is battling multiple legal suits filed by disengaged staff in places like Ibadan and Jos. He said these cases amount to hundreds of millions of naira.
He explained that funding the legal proceedings has significantly drained the Bureau’s overheads. To resolve this, the Bureau has initiated steps to settle most of the cases out of court.
He recommended that settlement costs be defrayed from the severance fund lodged in the consolidated account. This, he said, would ease the financial burden on the Bureau.
Looking ahead, he called for renewed collaboration with the AGF’s office in several key areas. These include resolving pending legal cases, digital transformation of public service processes, and wider implementation of IPPIS, TSA, and GIFMIS across MDAs.
He also emphasized the need for institutionalizing performance management systems in partnership with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. He further advocated for intensified human capital development, especially in financial skills.
While responding, Ogunjimi, expressed appreciation for the visit by the BPSR DG and acknowledged the Bureau’s strategic role in advancing public sector reforms.
He assured that his office is committed to fostering stronger institutional collaboration to ensure efficient financial management and improve public service delivery across MDAs.
He welcomed the proposals on digital transformation, severance settlements, and human capital development.
He said the AGF’s office will work closely with BPSR to resolve outstanding severance liabilities, adopt cutting-edge technologies, and expand the reach of financial reform tools like IPPIS, TSA, and GIFMIS.
He pledged to prioritize accountability, innovation, and transparency in the discharge of his duties.
