The proposal to phase out the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has sparked intense opposition from academic unions and stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector, who fear the move could dismantle decades of progress in public tertiary education.
Opposition from Academic Unions
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) have strongly opposed the initiative. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, warned that eliminating TETFund’s revenue stream to fund the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) would devastate public universities.
“The only source of funding is from TETFund, so when you destroy it, you have destroyed public universities,” Osodeke emphasized, accusing the ruling class of attempting to dismantle public education and restricting quality education to the wealthy. He also criticized the Tinubu administration’s Tax Bills, claiming they were drafted without consulting key stakeholders, including ASUU, vice chancellors, and pro-chancellors.
Alternatives Proposed
ASUU has proposed an alternative: fund NELFUND through Value Added Tax (VAT) rather than siphoning resources from TETFund, which relies on consolidated revenue from company income tax. This would allow TETFund to continue its critical role in developing infrastructure and advancing academics in public tertiary institutions.
Similarly, COEASU has labeled the proposed tax reforms a “dangerous ambush” that could jeopardize TETFund’s survival and the entire tertiary education system. Dr. Smart Olugbeko, COEASU President, expressed deep concern over potential funding cuts, warning of severe consequences for public institutions.
Broader Concerns and Criticism
Beyond the academic unions, educators and analysts have voiced disapproval. Olawale Oluwaseun Afolabi, an educator and political analyst, argued that the proposal to defund TETFund seems like an intentional step toward its dismantling. He questioned why both TETFund and NELFUND should not be funded directly through the national budget, highlighting inconsistencies in the reforms.
“If TETFund does not need special funding because it is an FG agency, why is NELFUND retaining a special levy?” Afolabi asked, underscoring the potential double standards in the proposed tax policy.
Urgent Consultations Needed
Stakeholders are now calling for urgent consultations to address the issue and ensure that the funding needs of Nigeria’s public tertiary education system are not undermined. The controversy has underscored the critical role of TETFund in supporting Nigeria’s higher education and the potential risks of dismantling a system that has delivered significant benefits over three decades.
