President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved N700 billion for tertiary institutions under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the 2025 budget cycle.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, made the announcement during the 2025 Strategic Planning Meeting in Abuja with heads of beneficiary institutions. The session focused on the 2025 Disbursement Guidelines and allowed for discussions, collaboration, and feedback on the 2024 disbursement cycle.
Echono stated that the 2025 allocation is structured to include direct disbursement, designated projects, and stabilization funds. Under direct allocation, universities will receive N2.86 billion each, polytechnics over N1.99 billion, and colleges of education more than N2.17 billion. He explained that special disbursements will support initiatives such as the expansion of the Special High Impact Programme (SHIP), completion of the National Library in Abuja, establishment of mechanized farms in some universities, and the development of student hostels through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
He emphasized that the 2025 disbursement aligns with the national Education Sector Road Map under President Tinubu’s administration and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. He also acknowledged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for improved revenue collection, which has contributed to increased education funding.
Echono highlighted that physical infrastructure allocations for 2025 will focus on upgrading, rehabilitating, and renovating dilapidated infrastructure in beneficiary institutions. Other priorities include expanding medical education to increase student intake for Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Dentists, adopting medical simulation technology to improve training, providing alternative power sources for institutions struggling with energy costs, and strengthening campus security and disaster recovery efforts.
He urged heads of institutions to ensure the prompt implementation of their allocations, consult widely with their communities, and make timely payments to contractors and vendors. He also called for full utilization of 2024 and previous allocations while expediting procurement processes to access 2025 funds.
