The solution will reduce to the barest minimum all incidences of ghost workers, human errors in salary and pension computation, delayed salary payment and provide automatic payslips to all employees.

The Managing Director, SystemSpecs, Mr. John Obaro, who unveiled the new solution in Lagos, on Friday, said the solution was introduced to promote end-to-end electronic processing and payment of salaries and pensions by private and public sector organisations, in line with the National Payment System Vision 2020 initiative of Central Bank of Nigeria.

He said “Organisations in Nigeria now have a single, very easy to use and extremely affordable IT solution that will help them manage all aspects of their Salary and Pension processing and make direct payment into staff and pensioners’ accounts in any commercial or micro-finance bank located anywhere in the country.”

He added that the solution, would make it possible for any public or private sector organisation to handle all aspects of advanced biometrics, payroll processing, pension processing and e-Payment processing right from their office premises on a single platform.

The Group Head, Corporate Strategy, SystemSpecs, Dr. Hakeem Bakare, who is also a member of the CBN Project Infrastructure Strategy Steering Committee (PISC) on e-Payment, said “Remita Integrated Biometrics, Payroll, Pension and e-Payment systems is a one-stop solution that will make it extremely easy for organisations to comply with the CBN directives on salary and pension processing, and e-Payment.”

He further noted that apart from the banks, all PFAs and PFCs were also connected to the Remita platform.

“As organisations pay salaries, pension deductions are also remitted to PFAs and PFCs with the delivery of associated electronic schedules. The same thing applies to organisations who wish to use the system to remit their staff PAYE tax to all 36 States Boards of Internal revenue and Federal Inland Revenue,” he added.

A review of the draft policy guideline on end-to-end salary processing and e-Payment, obtained from the CBN website, revealed that all organisations with more than 50 employees would be expected to adopt electronic processing of salaries and pensions and direct payment into beneficiaries accounts very soon.

Source:  The Guardian

The solution  unveiled during an event held for all the banks in Nigeria  in Lagos recently was   introduced to promote end-to-end electronic processing and payment of Salaries and Pensions by private and public sector organisations  in line with the National Payment System (NPS) vision 2020 initiative of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking at the event, the  Managing Director of SystemSpecs, Mr. John Obaro,  said that   organisations in Nigeria now have a single, very easy to use and extremely affordable IT solution that will help them manage all aspects of their salary and pension processing and make direct payment into staff and pensioners’ accounts in any commercial or micro-finance bank located anywhere in the country.

For the  Group Head Corporate Strategy, Dr. Hakeem Bakare  who is also a member of the CBN Project Infrastructure Strategy Steering Committee (PISC) on e-Payment, the product  is a one-stop solution that would  make it extremely easy for organisations to comply with the CBN directives on Salary and Pension processing and e-Payment.

The solution, he said, would  reduce to the barest minimum all incidences of ghost workers, human errors in salary and pension computation, delayed salary payment and provide automatic payslips to all employees as well as notify beneficiaries as soon as their accounts are credited in the commercial or micro-finance banks.

“Apart from the banks, all PFAs and PFCs are also connected to the Remita platform.  As organizations pay salaries, pension deductions are also remitted to PFAs and PFCs with the delivery of associated electronic schedules.  The same thing applies to organizations who wish to use the system to remit their staff PAYE tax to all 36 States Boards of Internal revenue (SBIRs) and Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS),” he said.

A review of the draft policy guideline on end-to-end salary processing and e-Payment obtained from the CBN website revealed that all organisations with more than 50 employees will be expected to adopt electronic processing of Salaries & Pensions and direct payment into beneficiaries accounts very soon.

This is part of the Federal Government’s agenda to ensure the transformation of the Nigerian economy through the adoption of ICT.

SystemSpecs is a leading software house in Nigeria with a focus on providing the most qualitative human capital management and financial software solutions for the Nigeria and the larger African markets.

Source:  This Day

The Remita solution is introduced to promote end-to-end electronic processing and payment of Salaries and Pensions by Private and Public Sector Organizations, in line with the National Payment System (NPS) Vision 2020 initiative of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking at the event, John Obaro, Managing Director of SystemSpecs said “Organisations in Nigeria now have a single, very easy to use and extremely affordable IT solution that will help them manage all aspects of their Salary and Pension processing and make direct payment into staff and pensioners’ accounts in any commercial or micro-finance bank located anywhere in the country.

A preview of the solution at the event, reveals that Remita is the first of its kind in the country as it makes it possible for any public or private sector organization to handle all aspects of advanced biometrics, payroll processing, pension processing and e-Payment processing right from their office premises on a single platform.

Expatiating on the features and benefits of Remita at the event, Dr. Hakeem Bakare, Group Head Corporate Strategy who is also a member of the CBN Project Infrastructure Strategy Steering Committee (PISC) on e-Payment said, “Remita Integrated Biometrics, Payroll, Pension and e-Payment systems is a one-stop solution that will make it extremely
easy for organizations to comply with the CBN directives on Salary and Pension processing, and e-Payment.
The solution will reduce to the barest minimum all incidences of ghost workers, human errors in salary and pension computation, delayed salary payment and provide automatic payslips to all employees as well as notify beneficiaries as soon as their accounts are credited in the commercial or micro-finance banks. Speaking further, he said, “apart from the banks, all PFAs and PFCs are also connected to the Remita platform. As organizations pay salaries, pension deductions are also remitted to PFAs and PFCs with the delivery of associated electronic schedules. The same thing applies to organizations who wish to use the system to remit their staff PAYE tax to all 36 States Boards of Internal revenue (SBIRs) and Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS)”.

A review of the draft policy guideline on end-to-end salary processing and e-Payment obtained from the CBN website reveal that all organizations with more than 50 employees will be expected to adopt electronic processing of Salaries & Pensions and direct payment into beneficiaries accounts very soon. This is part of the Federal Government’s agenda to ensure the transformation of the Nigerian economy through the adoption of ICT.

SystemSpecs is a leading software house in Nigeria with a focus on providing the most qualitative Human Capital Management and Financial Software Solutions for the Nigeria and the larger African markets.

Source:  Financial Technology Africa

The solution will reduce to the barest minimum all incidences of ghost workers, human errors in salary and pension computation, delayed salary payment and provide automatic payslips to all employees.

The Managing Director, SystemSpecs, Mr. John Obaro, who unveiled the new solution in Lagos, on Friday, said the solution was introduced to promote end-to-end electronic processing and payment of salaries and pensions by private and public sector organisations, in line with the National Payment System Vision 2020 initiative of Central Bank of Nigeria.

He said “Organisations in Nigeria now have a single, very easy to use and extremely affordable IT solution that will help them manage all aspects of their Salary and Pension processing and make direct payment into staff and pensioners’ accounts in any commercial or micro-finance bank located anywhere in the country.”

He added that the solution, would make it possible for any public or private sector organisation to handle all aspects of advanced biometrics, payroll processing, pension processing and e-Payment processing right from their office premises on a single platform.

The Group Head, Corporate Strategy, SystemSpecs, Dr. Hakeem Bakare, who is also a member of the CBN Project Infrastructure Strategy Steering Committee (PISC) on e-Payment, said “Remita Integrated Biometrics, Payroll, Pension and e-Payment systems is a one-stop solution that will make it extremely easy for organisations to comply with the CBN directives on salary and pension processing, and e-Payment.”

He further noted that apart from the banks, all PFAs and PFCs were also connected to the Remita platform.

“As organisations pay salaries, pension deductions are also remitted to PFAs and PFCs with the delivery of associated electronic schedules. The same thing applies to organisations who wish to use the system to remit their staff PAYE tax to all 36 States Boards of Internal revenue and Federal Inland Revenue,” he added.

A review of the draft policy guideline on end-to-end salary processing and e-Payment, obtained from the CBN website, revealed that all organisations with more than 50 employees would be expected to adopt electronic processing of salaries and pensions and direct payment into beneficiaries accounts very soon.

Source:  TheNigerianDaily.com

The Remita solution is introduced to promote end-to-end electronic processing and payment of Salaries and Pensions by Private and Public Sector Organizations, in line with the National Payment System (NPS) Vision 2020 initiative of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking at the event, John Obaro, Managing Director of SystemSpecs said “Organisations in Nigeria now have a single, very easy to use and extremely affordable IT solution that will help them manage all aspects of their Salary and Pension processing and make direct payment into staff and pensioners’ accounts in any commercial or micro-finance bank located anywhere in the country.

A preview of the solution at the event, reveals that Remita is the first of its kind in the country as it makes it possible for any public or private sector organization to handle all aspects of advanced biometrics, payroll processing, pension processing and e-Payment processing right from their office premises on a single platform.

Expatiating on the features and benefits of Remita at the event, Dr. Hakeem Bakare, Group Head Corporate Strategy who is also a member of the CBN Project Infrastructure Strategy Steering Committee (PISC) on e-Payment said “Remita Integrated Biometrics, Payroll, Pension and e-Payment systems is a one-stop solution that will make it extremely easy for organizations to comply with the CBN directives on Salary and Pension processing, and e-Payment. The solution will reduce to the barest minimum all incidences of ghost workers, human errors in salary and pension computation, delayed salary payment and provide automatic payslips to all employees as well as notify beneficiaries as soon as their accounts are credited in the commercial or micro-finance banks.

Speaking further, he said “apart from the banks, all PFAs and PFCs are also connected to the Remita platform. As organizations pay salaries, pension deductions are also remitted to PFAs and PFCs with the delivery of associated electronic schedules. The same thing applies to organizations who wish to use the system to remit their staff PAYE tax to all 36 States Boards of Internal revenue (SBIRs) and Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS)”.

A review of the draft policy guideline on end-to-end salary processing and e-Payment obtained from the CBN website reveal that all organizations with more than 50 employees will be expected to adopt electronic processing of Salaries & Pensions and direct payment into beneficiaries accounts very soon. This is part of the Federal Government’s agenda to ensure the transformation of the Nigerian economy through the adoption of ICT.

SystemSpecs is a leading software house in Nigeria with a focus on providing the most qualitative Human Capital Management and Financial Software Solutions for the Nigeria and the larger African markets.

Source:  Nigerian Bulletin

Not many people will also realise that the trillion dollar global software industry has not grown purely by superior marketing skill of the foreign brands. The brands have equally grown by the sheer weight of political willpower of government of various countries not only to export their local knowledge solutions but also to ensure the local usage and patronage of such solutions. If you have doubts then check how the US and European powers secretly use their embassies as foreign sales outposts to market their home-made products. The Indian government has invested so much political willpower to ensure the acceptability of Infosys and other Indian software companies in countries within and outside of Asia.

Nigeria is one of the prime destinations of Infosys solutions and so many other offshore software companies. Billions of dollars are exported every year as cost of deployment and payment for licensing fees. The software industry is at once local and global and increasingly for any solution provider to become relevant, it must be local and global in terms of value proposition and certification.

Not all Nigerian software companies have attained this mark. But the few that have attained this mark have done so with little or no support from a government so ‘noisily’ patronising about the need to promote non-oil exports. Increasingly, local software companies have had to prove their own worth ten times over their foreign rivals on their own local soil where they ought to enjoy some advantages. The in-road few players such as Systemspec Limited and PFS Limited have made within the public sector and the financial sector has been by merit and brazen show of courage in an environment that rejects its own.

Government wants to promote local content in the ICT industry. But it appears to be befuddled by its own somewhat lack of vision and commitment. That perhaps may explain the recent sad fate that has happened to Systemspecs. After winning and successfully implementing a World Bank-led bid to deploy the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria executed in partnership with the World Bank which involved just 16 federal ministries with a population of about 55,000 public servants, the software company has been told it would get no place for the second and main phase which involved the entire public service.

Both the World Bank, which is no longer part of the second phase, and Systempecs are in shock. The criteria have changed to include the Nigeria factor and consequently, the deal has been given to a foreign software company. But it is not a Systemspecs loss but a Nigerian tragedy. The software company in question has become iconic of the Nigerian willpower to triumph in spite of the odds. Long before the IPPIS, Systemspecs had spread its weight to other countries particularly within the continent, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea inclusive among others to firm up its brand as global.

The IPPIS was a winner for the Federal Government, the World Bank and Systemspecs. Through the implementation of the Payroll and Personnel Management software developed 100 per cent in Nigeria by a Nigerian company, the Nigerian government was able to save a whopping N12 billion. For the World Bank, the Nigerian company its consultants settled for in the international bid for the IPPIS project had proven its mark, had not disappointed and was worthy of winning the next bid; for Systemspecs, the global software industry could now reckon with a Nigerian company; and for Nigeria, the chicken had come home to roost via sheer merit. But the criteria would soon change in very questionable circumstance to shock all the stakeholders.

What could have been the beginning of Systemspecs’ stronger grip within the Nigerian public sector and a vista for the Nigerian government to concretise its vision of promoting the growth of indigenous software capacity has been blasted by less than acceptable factors. The implications are deep and varied.

Why enrich a foreign company and another country at the expense of your own company and your national interest? Why throw the entire operation of the very sensitive public service to the software scrutiny of foreign interest when there is a tested local solution provider which has deplored the same solution within the same environment? Why export hard currency when that money could improve the destiny of many Nigerians inside a Nigerian company. Is there something really wrong with the idea of a Nigeria can-do spirit? The questions and implications are numerous.

Some years back, former Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank and one of the known drivers of ICT in Nigeria, Mr Jim Ovia had a not-too-pleasant encounter with a former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo inside the Aso Villa during the formal presentation of the Omatek laptop to the Nigerian leader.

Ovia was present as one of the Small and Medium Enterprises fund providers for Omatek Computers. Ovia had mentioned at the gathering that he was at Bangalore, the software capital of India and had seen a tree planted by the Nigerian president when the president paid a courtesy visit to Infosys, India’s leading software company and one of the biggest players on the globe.

Characteristic of Chief Obasanjo, he had cut Mr Ovia short and castigated him for failing to fund indigenous software efforts. He took a swipe at the banking industry blaming it for being part of the causative factors for the dearth of thriving indigenous ICT entrepreneurship. “You only need a red rug, a desk and some beautiful ladies to set up a bank and collect peoples’ money,” said Chief Obasanjo to Mr Ovia. But “you need courage and vision to do what this woman is doing. Madam I must commend you for this effort,” the chief said while addressing Mrs Florence Seriki, the CEO of Omatek Computers Plc.

For Mr Ovia, it was a challenge that cumulated into the efforts at setting up a Software Park in Lagos. Chief Obasanjo’s message was simple and clear. He had been to India and had seen how the expansive growth of India’s indigenous software industry has made the world’s second most populous country to lead in the global software industry and to reinvent its national economy to become part of the New World Economic Order.

If India could do it, then Nigeria could do it with sufficient political willpower, support of the private banking sector to invest in the knowledge industry and the goodwill of the public sector through committed patronage of the solutions derivable from indigenous software capacity.

Before his departure from power, Chief Obasanjo had demonstrated a sense of vision in getting the local Nigeria ICT industry to have some steam to bud and blossom. There was a deliberate policy thrust to encourage and patronise genuine local ICT efforts. We owe ourselves the duty to save ourselves. If there is anything President Goodluck Jonathan must adopt from ex-President Obasanjo, it is a practical approach to believing that Nigeria owes Nigerians the duty of growing the local software industry. This much the former president revealed while in power. He derided everyone including himself for failing to grow an industry yearning for government support.

The more reason President Jonathan must ask that the proper thing be done and NOW!

Source: The Nation

This success recorded under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) initiative of the Federal Government, executed in partnership with the World Bank, involved just 16 federal ministries with a population of about 55,000 public servants. SystemSpecs has recently been recognised by the computer industry as Nigeria’s number one indigenous software company.

Speaking at the award presentation event, Charles Uwadia, president of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said the selection of SystemSpecs for the award for the second year running is an attestation to the company’s sense of focus, professionalism, integrity, and commitment to establishing Nigeria on the global software landscape.

Mr. Uwadia, who was represented by David Adewumi, first national vice president of NCS, asked professional bodies and the civil society to continue to engage government to ensure it pays more than lip service to local content and indigenous capacity development policies.

John Obaro, managing director of the company, said, “SystemSpecs is humbled winning this award for the second year running. This recognition by the computer industry body made up of seasoned professionals in different parts of the world has made us committed more than ever to ensure Nigeria becomes a force to be reckoned with in the area of software development on the global scene.”

Source:  234Next

The ITE-IU is the business technology intelligence unit of Know-How Media publishers of IT Edge News.Com. The West Africa Top 50 Technology Business Enterprise is an annual rating of the leading technology enterprises within the ECOWAS sub-region. The ranking was instituted in 2005.

In the presentation ceremony which took place in Lagos, John Obaro, Managing Director of SystemSpecs said, “We are delight by this recognitions from two reputable organizations which over the years are helping to develop and re-shape the Nigerian IT landscape. We pledge to continue to up hold the values and responsibilities these recognitions have placed on us. We would work even harder to ensure we
win it again this year”

Professor Charles Uwadia, President NCS who was represented by Dr. David Adewumi, NCS 1st Vice President said, “SystemSpecs is a pride to the society and our industry. Your products, works and contributions
to the growth and development of the software sector in Nigeria have remained consistent. It is not a surprise that your company has won this category of the Nigeria Information Technology Merit Award
(NITMA) back-to-back.”

Segun Oruame, Chief Executive Officer of Know How Media said, “Our recognition and annual ranking of companies is based on values they bring to their environment of operations and impact on the people of
their environment. SystemSpecs is an icon in its market and a Nigerian company proving that it can play well and play strong. It is local in development but global in outlook. Congratulations SystemSpecs as we
look forward to your consistent contributions to technology development in the WA sub-region.”

SystemSpecs is a software house with a focus on providing the most qualitative Human Capital Management and Financial software solutions for the Nigerian and African markets.

Source:  ITedgenews.com

Besides, the Minister,  during the week in New York also  disclosed that the Federal Government has already saved about  N12b from payrolls and salaries with the adoption of data  capturing of personnel information.

Aganga, who spoke to a select group of Nigerian diplomats and  reporters in New York ahead of a Gala night held in his honour by  Techno-Serve, an international not for profit organization that  seeks to cut poverty in the world, explained that one of the major  pillars of Nigeria’s renewed economic growth to ensure fiscal  reforms and discipline is by maximizing, diversifying and protecting  the revenues of the federal government.

While conceding some level of wasteful spending by the  government in the past, the former Goldman Sachs executive  noted that state governors will only be allowed now to take loans  that they can repay during their terms in office.

“If states want to borrow externally, the state will ask me…if I  agree, we ‘ll take it to the National Assembly for approval, but if  they can’t sustain the repayment I say no,” Aganga explained,  adding that state houses of assembly must also write to authorize  the loan before he can look at it.

He added that unlike in the past, the federal government has now  decided that from 2011, states can only take loans that will be paid  back during the term of the borrowing administration.

“Now if you take a loan-(ie states) you have to pay back in your  term, people did that before, but now, we discourage them,” the  Minister said.

Asked what will happen to states where the previous governors  had already committed the government, the Finance Minister  stated that “they will come to us to restructure the loans to make it  affordable,” adding that the Federal Government knows most if not all the loans  owed by states and “there are adequate controls.”

According to him, “whether it is external borrowing from the global  community, or domestic borrowing by way of local bonds, or even  commercial loans, the states can hardly enter into any loans  without the knowledge of the Federal Government. Besides, he said,  there is a team in the Finance Ministry that will also monitor the  projects for which such loans have been obtained.

Under fiscal reform he said the Finance Ministry was already  cutting down on wasteful spending in government generally , disclosing that the Federal Government has already saved about  $12billion from payrolls and salaries to its workers by simply capturing  the data so far in only 16 of the about 100 MDA’s-ministries,  departments and agencies.

He disclosed that now monies are paid directly into people’s  account rather than before when the money goes through each  ministry, department or agency.

While calling on Nigerians abroad and at home with ideas to reach  out to the government, he said the four main pillars upon which  the FG’s strategy for economic growth stand includes creating  access to capital in the economy, ensuring inclusive growth,  restoring barriers to the growth, especially in the power sector, IT  and infrastructure, and lastly, creating the right business  environment in the country.

He disclosed that as at Tuesday last week 333 expressions of  interests from local and international investors had already been  received for the planned sales of power generation and distribution  companies, saying “the power sector will be the next like the  telecom industry.”

According to him, “the number of investors who have shown  interest in BPE’s privatization plans in the power sector far  exceeded what we expected.”

Explaining that state governors were initially opposed to the  creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, he said the Federal  Government is now close to securing National Assembly to make  the bill into a law, so that the SWF will replace the Excess Crude  Account, ECA.

According to the Finance Minister, it took several  meetings with the governors at the level of the National Economic  Council, NEC, before most of them signed on and supported the  Fund which bill has now passed its second legislative reading at  the National Assembly.

He said that while the National Assembly is now on vacation, the  expectations are that on resumption two weeks before the end of  May when the term of the presidency will be over, the National  Assembly would resume and formally pass the bill making the  SWF a legal entity unlike the Excess Crude oil Account which  lacked any legislative authority and has been dogged with  controversies.

It is the practice that the Excess Crude Account, which the Fund  will replace has in the past benefited the state governors as the  presidency has on several occasions drawn considerable amount  of money running into billions of dollars and shared it outrightly  among the state governments.

Aganga’s main grouse with the Excess Crude Account is that it has  no savings or investment value, but merely “sitting down there.”  On the contrary, he explained that the SWF would be composed of  “three boxes-the savings box, the stabilization box and  the infrastructural box,” all of which will safeguard the country’s  resources.

With the bill now almost a law, the minister recalled that, “it took  us a long time to get to this stage.  I had to take the bill to the NEC including the  governors about 4 to 5 times before they accepted it.”

Source:  Sunday Tribune

The organization was also honored by Know-How Media, Publishers of IT Edge News Magazine which according to the MD, Mr Segun Oruame selected systemspecs consistent innovation in the Nigeria Software sector. based the se olectionn the economic value that the organization has brought to the county, local in foundation but global in value, he described the company that has tried to sell Nigeria to the world d as a software that can play well in the global software industry.

Responding to the awards Mr Obaro said, “we remain humbled by this recognition and will continue to pursue excellence in order to make our country a worthy name among the major IT nations of the world”. He however expressed his dismay at government’s attitude towards indigenous software which he described as disappointing for a nation that should support and promotes her own content and innovations. “And if an indigenous software has saved a country the sum of 12 billion Naira I see no reason why it should award the larger contract to a foreign company” he added

SystemSpecs adjudged one of Nigeria’s best software companies, started operations in Nigeria in 1991 and has carved a niche for herself in providing human capital management and financial software solutions for Nigeria and the African continent.

Source: AIT Infotech Network