The Federal Government has reaffirmed the security of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System database, following concerns about its safety.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, through Director of Press and Public Relations Bawa Mokwa, issued this reassurance on Monday in Abuja, according to The Punch.
Recent reports suggested that the IPPIS Payroll Validation section on the Accountant-General’s official website had been compromised by an unidentified hacker.
Additionally, there were claims that workers’ data on the IPPIS Secretariat’s site was vulnerable due to an expired secure site layer feature, which had reportedly not been renewed for over a year.
In response, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation emphasized its commitment to maintaining a secure and efficient personnel and payroll management system, assuring that the system remains protected and operational.
Meanwhile, it it reported that the IPPIS section of the website was still inaccessible when this report was filed.
Mokwa stated that “the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System database has not been compromised,” and reaffirmed that employees’ personnel data was secure.
The OAGF, which is responsible for overseeing the management of the IPPIS and other federal financial initiatives, revealed that it has implemented an ICT Security Policy aimed at safeguarding its digital assets.
According to the OAGF, the policy governing the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System aligns with global best practices in cybersecurity.
This approach ensures the ongoing protection of sensitive data within government systems.
“No data is saved on the OAGF website,” the statement clarified, addressing rumours that sensitive information may have been stored or compromised through the website.
“The IPPIS uses the website only to share information, not for transactions. Neither payroll nor payments are made through the website, therefore, no data is contained in the website,” Mokwa stated.
The statement further clarified that the IPPIS Validation Portal, recently introduced to update employee information, was intended for a specific period.
After completing the data validation exercise, the portal was permanently shut down to prevent any further access.
“The IPPIS Validation Portal was deployed on a secure platform,” the statement read, adding that a secure database and application system were procured from HELIX-FONS, a reputable international software provider.
The office acknowledged the critical importance of the IPPIS to Nigerian workers. Consequently, it deemed it essential to address and alleviate concerns about any potential loss or breach of employees’ data in the IPPIS database.
