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ASUU Rejects Proposal To Phase Out TETFund, Warns of Education Crisis
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has strongly criticized the proposed phase-out of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as outlined in the 2024 Nigeria Tax Bill.
The union warned that the move, currently under review by the National Assembly, poses a severe threat to tertiary education in Nigeria.
During a press conference held at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo town, Ondo State, on Tuesday, the ASUU Akure Zone Chairman, Prof. Adeola Egbedokun, described the proposal as a deliberate attempt to undermine the development of the nation’s public tertiary institutions.
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Egbedokun highlighted key provisions in the proposed bill, including a reduction of education tax allocation to TETFund to 50% in 2025 and 2026, with a complete withdrawal of funding from 2030.
He expressed concerns about the replacement of TETFund with the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the possible diversion of education tax to other areas.
“ASUU is particularly alarmed by section 59(3) of the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which proposes that only 50 per cent of the Education Tax (Development Levy) will be allocated to TETFund in 2025 and 2026, and that from 2030 onward, TETFund is set to receive no allocation,” Egbedokun said.
He warned that the proposed funding shift towards student loans could pressure public tertiary institutions into introducing high tuition fees, thereby transforming them into revenue-generating entities.
“The phasing out of TETFund would pose a significant threat to tertiary education in Nigeria as its contribution to physical infrastructure and capacity building of staff could come to a halt.
“This could also lead to students becoming chronic debtors, mirroring the financial challenges faced by the nation itself,” he added.
Egbedokun emphasized the pivotal role TETFund has played in the development of Nigeria’s tertiary education system over the past decade and cautioned against policies that could erode these gains.
“ASUU believes that these changes will severely undermine TETFund, which has been instrumental in repositioning Nigerian tertiary education for global competitiveness and transformative development,” he noted.
The union called on the National Assembly to reject any provision of the Nigeria Tax Bill that undermines TETFund and urged stakeholders to defend the agency’s existence.
“ASUU urges the National Assembly to reject any provision of the Nigeria Tax Bill that could undermine the existence and effectiveness of TETFund.
“The survival of TETFund is not merely an educational concern, it is a matter of national importance. Any attempt, whether intentional or otherwise, to repeal the TETFund Act 2011 would constitute a profound disservice not only to the education sector but to the nation as a whole,” Egbedokun concluded.
ASUU also appealed to the general public and education stakeholders to unite in opposing the proposed changes, warning that the future of tertiary education in Nigeria depends on sustainable and robust funding mechanisms.
To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.
This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.
Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”
Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”
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Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”
The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has flagged off the disbursement of ₦689.79 million in bursary payments to 19,318 continuing students across 97 institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The disbursement follows a 100 per cent increase in academic bursary rates, marking the first adjustment since 2007.
The latest payment forms part of the state government’s broader investment in education and student welfare, with cumulative bursary disbursements and related student awards under the administration reaching ₦3.29 billion.
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More than 174,000 beneficiary payments have been recorded across successive payment cycles.
Increased Allowances for Veterinary and Law Students
Under the revised scholarship support framework, allowances for Veterinary Medicine students have increased by 150 per cent for students in the 300 and 400 levels and by 200 per cent for those in the 500 and 600 levels.
Support for Nigerian Law School students and academic excellence awards has also continued.
The state government has also approved a scholarship programme for 1,700 students, with 50 beneficiaries drawn from each of the state’s 34 local government areas.
The programme is designed to support tuition fees, registration and other educational expenses.
₦6bn Scholarship Trust Fund
The government has made provision for ₦6 billion in seed funding for a scholarship trust fund intended to strengthen educational financing.
The fund is expected to support specialised scholarship opportunities in fields including engineering, medicine, Artificial Intelligence and mechatronics.
The state’s foreign scholarship initiatives have also supported 118 students studying Medicine, Artificial Intelligence and Bioengineering in Egypt, Ethiopia and China, with approved educational and living expenses covered by the government.
More Scholarship Opportunities
Other educational support initiatives include 34 maritime scholarship beneficiaries and seven students receiving 50 per cent financial support at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
The state has also nominated 34 candidates for MBBS studies in Russia, identified 70 prospective master’s degree candidates and selected 10 candidates for Qur’anic Sciences scholarships in Ghana.
These initiatives form part of the state’s broader efforts to expand access to education across different fields and levels of study.
Scholarship Board Strengthens Accountability
The Katsina State Scholarship Board has also strengthened its application, verification and payment systems.
As part of its accountability measures, the board interviewed more than 14,925 fresh applicants and returned approximately ₦86 million in unclaimed funds to the state government.
The state also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in expanding access to educational financing and digital learning resources.
Radda Inaugurates Tinubu/Dikko Education Beneficiary Network
As part of the activities, Radda inaugurated the Tinubu/Dikko Education Beneficiary Network (TDEBNET), a voluntary organisation comprising parents and beneficiaries of educational programmes.
Members of the organisation expressed support for the re-election bids of Radda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
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