President Bola Tinubu has issued new directives to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) aimed at improving student welfare in Nigerian tertiary institutions. This announcement was made during a meeting between Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, and the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Objective: Ensuring Industrial Harmony
The directives are part of President Tinubu’s broader objective to ensure industrial harmony within tertiary institutions. According to a statement released by TETFund on Tuesday, the president emphasized the importance of a stable academic calendar. Sonny Echono noted that the president’s instructions were prompted by frequent disruptions in the academic schedule. Tinubu specifically tasked the minister with ensuring harmony in the sector to provide a predictable academic calendar, allowing students to plan their education and graduation with certainty.
Improving Student Welfare and Infrastructure
Echono highlighted that the president has charged TETFund with enhancing the learning experience, quality of education, and student welfare on campus. In line with this directive, TETFund has initiated the construction of 36 modern hostel facilities across tertiary institutions in 2024. Echono revealed that the president has instructed TETFund to double this number to 72 in 2025. Currently, the construction projects are at various stages, with some nearing completion and others underway through public-private partnerships (PPP).
Campus Transportation and Power Supply
Regarding campus transportation, Echono mentioned that the president has directed TETFund to collaborate with relevant agencies to convert existing buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and to provide mass transit buses for students. This intervention is set to be implemented next year.
On the issue of power supply, Echono expressed concern over the high electricity bills faced by universities, with some institutions being charged between N300 million to N400 million monthly. He noted that TETFund is engaging with the Ministry of Power to address the power supply challenges and explore alternative power sources to reduce the burden on institutions.
Salary Arrears and Funding Sources
Additionally, President Tinubu has instructed the immediate payment of four months’ salary arrears owed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). TETFund, a government initiative primarily funded through educational taxes on companies, is tasked with ensuring adequate funding for tertiary education and addressing specific needs to improve student welfare.
These measures reflect the government’s commitment to advancing educational development and enhancing the overall quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.
