TETFund warns it may withdraw support from non-performing tertiary institutions
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has stated that any institution that fails to meet its targets for enrollment, academic achievement, or proper fund retirement may lose its financial support.
The warning was issued by the fund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, on Monday in Abuja during a one-day strategic meeting with institutional leaders, bursars, and heads of procurement from TETFund-supported schools.
Mr Echono questioned why many institutions struggle to access, use, and properly account for their allocated funding. He stressed that unused funds would be redirected to schools prepared to utilize them effectively.
He voiced concern over low student enrollment in certain institutions and emphasized the critical need for accountability in spending the funds given to beneficiary schools.
Referring to a specific case from the South-East, Mr Echono mentioned that a polytechnic with just 30 students had continued operations for four years while still receiving government support.
“This development is embarrassing, particularly for a region known for its strong educational culture,” he said. “This kind of inefficiency undermines our mission and brings unnecessary scrutiny from the presidency and the public.”
He also aimed at institutions that halted ongoing construction and blamed prior administrations for the delays.
“When you inherit an office, you inherit both assets and liabilities; we urge you to take ownership and work closely with the community to resolve long-standing infrastructure challenges,” he said.
Mr Echono pointed to recent initiatives, such as providing hospital housing for medical students during their clinical training, describing this as a positive shift that would be broadened this year.
He also praised institutions that have shown initiative in requesting infrastructure aid and assured them that the government remains ready to support such proposals as long as openness and proper accountability are maintained.
Responding to concerns about the rapid increase in the number of institutions, Mr Echono pointed to the nation’s expanding youth population and stressed the need to improve educational access.
“Our young people make up nearly 60 per cent of the population. If we don’t create space for them, the consequences will be dire.
“We must ensure we increase enrollment because we want a large chunk of our students to get access to education,” he said.
Addressing the halt of the foreign aspect of the Academic Staff Training and Development scholarship, Mr Echono indicated that the fund is now focused domestically.
He said TETFund intends to strengthen local institutions, upgrade their infrastructure, and invite international collaborators to launch essential academic programmes.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abdullahi Ribadu, praised TETFund for its ongoing contributions to improving the country’s university and technical education systems.
Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), urged honest conversations on procurement procedures and enhancing institutional capacity.
