The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fiery warning to the Federal Government, urging it to reconsider its alleged plan to undermine the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). For over 30 years, TETFund has been a lifeline for Nigerian tertiary institutions, but ASUU now fears it could become a casualty of the administration’s new tax bills.
ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke accused the government of trying to destroy public universities through what he called “systemic suffocation” of TETFund. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Osodeke declared, “The only source of funding is from TETFund, so when you destroy it, you have destroyed public universities.” He didn’t stop there, alleging that certain elements in power “want to destroy public universities and ensure that the children of the poor remain slaves.”
The controversy stems from the government’s plan to fund the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by diverting resources from TETFund. Osodeke argued this approach is not only flawed but outright destructive. “If you want to drive NELFUND, go and look for ways to fund it. Don’t take from Peter to pay Peter,” he said, calling for alternative funding sources such as Value Added Tax (VAT) instead of cannibalizing TETFund’s consolidated revenue from company income tax.
Osodeke also accused the government of bypassing key stakeholders in drafting these tax bills, which have sparked widespread opposition.
“The Vice Chancellors were not consulted, Pro Chancellors were not consulted,” he fumed. “The people sat down somewhere and said over the next five years let’s scrap it without consulting those who initiated this bill that has transformed Nigerian public universities.”
The ASUU president’s frustration was evident as he lambasted the administration for failing to grasp the significance of TETFund. “TETFund is not gotten from the budget. It is money coming from companies – investment by companies in education,” he explained. He argued that such funds should be seen as investments, not taxes, emphasizing that countries like Ghana have emulated TETFund’s model to fund their educational institutions.
The proposed phasing out of TETFund, Osodeke warned, would have devastating consequences. He pointed to a timeline in the tax bill that sees TETFund’s share of the consolidated fund reduced to 50% by 2025-2026, further slashed to 33% by 2026-2027, and ultimately to zero by 2030. “Other countries in Africa are emulating this TETFund,” he said. “But this tax bill is saying that by the year 2030, it should be scrapped and merged with NASENI and NITDA and then reduced to 2%.”
ASUU has also criticized NELFUND’s structure, arguing that loans, rather than grants, will only deepen inequality. With university fees skyrocketing, Osodeke lamented the growing dropout rates among students from low-income families. “In my department, I now have less than 10 students. Many have dropped out,” he revealed. “The children of the poor are dropping out.”
Osodeke’s plea was unequivocal: “Let the poor breathe.” He implored the government to prioritize the future of public education over political expediency, noting that many ASUU members paid the ultimate price in the fight for TETFund. “Allow TETFund as approved by the military based on the efforts of Nigerian lecturers, for whom many died. Don’t destroy it because once you destroy it, you have destroyed Nigerian education.”
The Tinubu administration’s tax reforms have been met with stiff resistance across the board, with even the 36 state governors and the 19 northern governors rejecting sections of the bills. But for ASUU, this battle is more than just another political squabble. “It is not about ASUU, it is about the future of Nigeria,” Osodeke concluded. “Nigerian government gives less than 10% to education. In West Africa, the minimum budget allocation is 15%.”
