The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for the immediate utilization of the backlog of unspent funds allocated to tertiary education in Nigeria. The union warned that the stagnation of these resources could severely hinder the growth and development of universities across the country.
ASUU’s call comes after a recent strategic engagement organized by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which brought together stakeholders, including heads of beneficiary institutions, for a one-day interaction in Abuja.
During the meeting, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sonny Echono, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to optimize the Fund’s performance and improve the quality of Nigeria’s tertiary education. He noted that with the recent increase in the education tax from 2.5% to 3%, TETFund is poised to make a more significant impact on infrastructure, academic programs, and student accessibility.
Echono emphasized that the heads of TETFund beneficiary institutions play a vital role in realizing the Fund’s mandate. He urged them to engage constructively in shaping the direction and priorities of the Fund, which aims to empower Nigeria’s human capital by addressing the shortage of skilled professionals across various sectors.
TETFund, originally established as the Education Tax Fund in 1993, was restructured in 2011 to focus on improving public tertiary institutions through contributions from the education tax. The recent increase in the education tax, authorized by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, is seen as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s educational system.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, raised concerns over proposed changes to TETFund’s funding structure. He cautioned that these changes could drastically affect the financial support for Nigerian universities and stressed the need for university leaders to advocate for their institutions rather than relying on external negotiations.
Osodeke’s comments underscore ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s higher education sector, as stakeholders continue to grapple with the challenges of funding, governance, and the quality of education. ASUU’s call for action on unspent funds signals a growing urgency to address these issues and ensure the sustainability of the nation’s tertiary education system.
