The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concerns about the poor management of funds provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to Nigerian tertiary institutions. ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, pointed out that many projects funded by TETFund since 2014 and 2015 remain unfinished, which has hindered the growth of higher education in the country.
During the inauguration of the TETFund Board of Trustees (BOT) and the Governing Councils in Abuja, Prof. Osodeke stressed that TETFund plays a vital role in sustaining tertiary education in Nigeria, especially given the challenging state of the education system. He urged the new board members to ensure that TETFund resources are used wisely and effectively to benefit future generations. He highlighted the need to transform the education system to improve the quality of education and called on the board to review past spending and complete unfinished projects to make the most of TETFund’s investments.
The new Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who led the inauguration, encouraged the board members to use their skills and networks to enhance the quality and performance of educational institutions. He emphasized that their appointments were based on their integrity, experience, and diverse expertise, and he urged them to bring in additional resources and support for the institutions. Prof. Mamman also noted that the government expects them to tackle the various challenges facing tertiary education, such as limited capacity in universities and colleges of education and disruptions caused by frequent strikes.
Prof. Mamman also highlighted the importance of cooperation between management and unions and mentioned that the government is having constructive discussions with ASUU to avoid future strikes. He said that a comprehensive plan had been developed to address key issues in the education sector, which they hope will prevent further disruptions to the academic calendar.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, congratulated the new board members and councils and expressed confidence in their ability to perform their roles effectively. He emphasized the crucial role of the education sector in national development, especially in preparing Nigeria’s growing youth population to address both local and global challenges. Echono stressed that proper management of TETFund resources is vital to supporting the country’s educational and developmental goals.
As ASUU continues to advocate for transparency and accountability in the use of TETFund resources, there is a strong focus on completing abandoned projects and ensuring that funds are used to improve the quality of education in Nigerian universities and colleges.
