FG Reassures Civil Servants Of IPPIS Database Security
The Federal Government has reassured civil servants that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) database remains secure and uncompromised. This assurance came via a statement from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), delivered through the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, on Monday in Abuja.
The statement was in response to a recent news report alleging that the IPPIS Payroll Validation section on the OAGF’s official website had been hijacked by an unknown hacker. The report also claimed that the workers’ data stored on the IPPIS Secretariat’s website was vulnerable to attacks because the website’s secure site layer had expired and had not been renewed for over a year.
The OAGF, however, countered these claims, asserting the government’s commitment to operating a safe and efficient personnel and payroll management system. Mokwa emphasized that the IPPIS database had not been compromised and that employees’ data remained secure.
Furthermore, the OAGF clarified that no sensitive data is stored on the OAGF website. Instead, the website is used strictly for information sharing, with no payroll or payment transactions taking place on the platform. The office also noted that the recently deployed IPPIS Validation Portal was only accessible for a specific period to update employee information, after which it was permanently shut down to prevent unauthorized access.
In line with global cybersecurity best practices, the OAGF revealed that an ICT Security Policy had been implemented to protect digital assets, ensuring that sensitive data within government systems remains secure. The office also confirmed that the IPPIS system operates on a secure database and application provided by HELIX-FONS, an international software firm known for its reputation in cybersecurity.
The OAGF assured Nigerian workers that any issues regarding IPPIS operations, particularly salary anomalies, would be addressed through established procedures and encouraged affected employees to report any discrepancies.
