…Calls on NASS, FG to Strengthen TETFund
The Ibadan Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against compromising Nigeria’s educational system by adopting International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed policies that could harm the sector.
In a press conference held on Sunday, the Ibadan Zone, which includes universities such as the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osun State University, Kwara State University, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, raised concerns about the proposed abolition of TETFund. The union criticized plans to replace TETFund with NELFUND through the Public Benefit and Taxation Bill (PBTB) of 2024.
Zonal Coordinator Professor Oyegoke Oyebamiji highlighted TETFund’s significant contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. These include infrastructure development, staff capacity building, promotion of advanced research, organization of seminars and workshops, laboratory upgrades, and the establishment of e-libraries. Oyebamiji warned that replacing TETFund with NELFUND would be a “retrogressive and harmful” move, jeopardizing the future of public education in Nigeria.
ASUU expressed particular concern over provisions in the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which allocate only 50% of the Education Tax to TETFund in 2025 and 2026, with the remaining percentages shared among other agencies, including NITDA, NASENI, and NELFUND. Worse still, the bill proposes reducing TETFund’s share to 66⅔% from 2027 to 2029 and entirely eliminating funding by 2030.
The union strongly criticized this plan, describing it as a “technical abolition” of TETFund and a deliberate attempt to undermine public education. They pointed out that asking TETFund to find alternative funding sources was unrealistic, comparing it to “asking a dead agency to generate funds.”
ASUU also noted the irony that countries like Ghana, which recently established its Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) based on Nigeria’s TETFund model, are benefiting from this initiative, while Nigeria is planning to dismantle it.
The dangers of abolishing TETFund, ASUU stated, include:
Loss of critical funding for tertiary institutions.
Disruption of ongoing projects and programs.
Adverse effects on research and development.
Increased financial burdens on students and parents.
Undermining of university autonomy.
Potential job losses for TETFund employees.
The union called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to rethink the proposed changes and instead work towards strengthening TETFund to ensure it continues to play its vital role in supporting Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Union leaders at the briefing included Prof. Ayoola Akinwole (ASUU-UI), Dr. Alex Akanmu (ASUU-UNILORIN), Dr. Dada Olujinmi (ASUU-LAUTECH), Dr. Wende Olaosebikan (ASUU-UNIOSUN), Dr. Shehu Salau (ASUU-KWASU), and Dr. Bamidele Ojo (ASUU-EAUED).
