[3] Abbil completed three months of administration and management courses at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, in 1973.

[3] He served in the Cabinet member in the first post-independence government of Prime Minister Walter Lini,[1] thereby becoming Vanuatu's first Secretary of the Ministry of Lands.

Iolu Abbil was appointed as the interim Ombudsman of Vanuatu in November 2004,[5] following the departure of Hannington Alatoa, whose term in office had expired in June 2004.

[5] Abil served as interim Ombudsman until April 2005 when Peter Taurakoto was appointed to a five-year term by President Kalkot Mataskelekele.

[1] Several members of parliament within Prime Minister Edward Natapei's governing coalition had supported former President Kalkot Mataskelekele in the first two rounds of the election.

With the support of Prime Minister Natapei, he secured 41 votes within the 58-member electoral college, which won the presidency of Vanuatu.