Digital Transformation and Technological Innovation in Governance IPPIS in Nigeria

This study examines the role of digital transformation and technological innovation in governance, with emphasis on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in Nigeria. As one of the flagship digital reforms in the public sector, IPPIS was designed to curb payroll fraud, eliminate ghost workers, and enhance transparency and accountability in public service management. Anchored on Institutional Theory, this research explores how institutional pressures, technological advancements, and governance imperatives shaped the adoption of IPPIS in Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) actively enrolled on IPPIS and analysed using Friedman’s two-way ANOVA. Findings reveal that IPPIS adoption significantly improves transparency and accountability, reduces payroll irregularities, and enhances financial discipline in Nigeria’s federal civil service. The study concludes that technological innovations like IPPIS are vital enablers of digital governance. It recommends extending IPPIS coverage to state and local governments, strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing staff capacity, bolstering cybersecurity safeguards, and institutionalizing compliance mechanisms to ensure sustainability and broader governance transformation.