Federal universities in Nigeria will no longer need special approval from the civil service before hiring staff, following a government decision aimed at reducing recruitment delays and improving university administration.

President Bola Tinubu announced the decision on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during the maiden convocation of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State.

According to the Federal Ministry of Information⁠, the president was represented by Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

What has changed?

Previously, federal universities were required to obtain recruitment waivers from the OHCSF (Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation) before employing additional staff.

The requirement could delay the replacement of retiring lecturers, recruitment of researchers and employment of administrative personnel.

Under the new arrangement, the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils will exercise greater responsibility over recruitment decisions.

Tinubu said the exemption was included in recent agreements between the government and university staff unions.

However, removing the waiver requirement does not mean universities can recruit without approved budgets or other applicable employment procedures.

Government also changes university payroll system

The president also announced steps to remove universities from the IPPIS (Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System).

The government is working towards moving tertiary institution employees to the GIFMIS (Government Integrated Financial Management Information System), which it says will better accommodate universities’ employment and salary structures.

According to TheCable⁠, the government expects the transition to improve salary administration, financial transparency and accountability.

The full implementation timetable has not been disclosed.

₦10bn allocated to university research

Tinubu also disclosed that the government provided ₦10 billion for the National Research Fund in 2026.

The fund is intended to support research addressing important national challenges, including healthcare and scientific development.

He further revealed that the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, had received an initial ₦8 billion intervention through TETFund to support its establishment.

The university graduated its first 50 students during Saturday’s ceremony.

What this means for Nigerians

The recruitment reform could help federal universities address staffing shortages more quickly, particularly in departments struggling with limited teaching and research personnel.

For students, additional lecturers could improve access to academic supervision, lectures and research opportunities.

However, the policy does not automatically create new vacancies or guarantee immediate recruitment.

Its success will depend on whether universities receive sufficient funding and use their increased recruitment powers transparently to employ qualified staff.