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 address their manpower needs more efficiently.

Tinubu, who is the visitor to all federal universities, disclosed the policy change on Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State, where 50 pioneer graduands received their degrees.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, the president said the removal of the recruitment hurdle was captured in recent agreements signed with university staff unions.

According to him, the reform would empower the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils to exercise their responsibilities in staff recruitment, allowing institutions to respond more effectively to legitimate manpower requirements.

“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 taking steps to migrate personnel in 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 intended to improve payroll efficiency, transparency and accountability, ensure timely and accurate salary payments, and accommodate the operational peculiarities of tertiary institutions.

Tinubu described the measures as part of the government’s broader commitment to strengthening institutional autonomy, improving personnel administration and creating an enabling environment for teaching, research, innovation and service delivery.

On funding for specialised institutions, the president said the Federal Government had provided FUHSA with an initial intervention of ₦8 billion through TETFund to support its establishment.

He explained that the investment followed the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system and highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s capacity to train health professionals.

Tinubu added that further investments would be channelled to the university through TETFund’s regular and special interventions, alongside allocations in the 2026 national budget for infrastructure, including roads, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.

He further disclosed that the Federal Government had provided ₦10 billion for the National Research Fund in 2026, urging universities, particularly specialised institutions such as FUHSA, to undertake research capable of addressing Nigeria’s pressing health challenges.

On staff welfare, the president said the government had signed agreements with academic and non-academic staff 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 unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, recognise the distinct but complementary roles of teaching and non-teaching personnel in ensuring the effective functioning of tertiary institutions.

“Both categories are indispensable to the delivery of quality education and national development,” Tinubu said.

The president also revealed that 1,798 FUHSA students, 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 student loan scheme was part of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that financial difficulties did not prevent qualified Nigerians from accessing higher education.

Congratulating the pioneer graduands, Tinubu urged them to apply their knowledge and professional skills towards improving healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable members of society.

“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.

He charged the graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity, compassion and a strong commitment to public service.

The president also commended the university’s management, staff and governing council for their roles in establishing the institution, urging them to develop FUHSA into a centre of excellence in health sciences education, research and innovation.

He encouraged the university to strengthen its international collaborations with institutions such as the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia, while ensuring that the partnerships translate into measurable improvements in teaching, research and healthcare delivery.

Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting FUHSA’s growth, noting that the development of specialised health institutions remained critical to producing competent medical professionals and researchers capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.