Victoria Mgbanwa
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on Nigerian university leaders to take a more proactive role in securing the future of the nation’s higher education system.
While stating that there is a need for autonomy and self-sufficiency in the face of mounting financial challenges.
The union’s call came during a one-day strategic session in Abuja, where the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) engaged university heads to discuss the future of tertiary education funding.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, expressed deep concern over the stagnation of resources and growing uncertainty surrounding the funding of universities. He warned that relying on external forces and political figures to negotiate the sector’s future would only impede progress and development.
He said, “If we don’t work hard, we cannot be sitting here in the next six years. Nobody will be here in the next six years.
“Whether we will be here or not in the next six years will depend on the National Assembly. I am so happy the Senate and the House of Representatives are here. The information available to us as a union is that there are two sets of bills in the National Assembly.
“One from the executive and one from the legislature, all concerning TETFund. The one from the executive arm of government indicates a page, out of 260 tax reviews, just a page in it. I am very sure the President will not have the details to look at when he is reading.
“And what is there? By the year 2025, they will increase the percentage of tax paid by industries to four per cent. TETFund will receive 50 per cent of it. By 2027, TETFund will be reduced to three per cent from four per cent.
“It should not be given to a bank to lend out as loans. When I look at this so-called NELFund as a bank, the money will not be given to a bank to lend to students. That bill is there.
“And all of us, if we still care about Nigerian universities, we must make sure that this bill does not pass at the National Assembly.
“Once it gets through, Nigerian universities will stop. So when you hear our team talking, this is what we are talking about.
“We found that there is a lot of money stuck in the central bank. Over the past 20 years, many universities have not been able to utilise it. Let’s talk to ourselves.
The ASUU president also highlighted the inefficiencies in managing existing funds, with many universities still unable to access or properly utilize funds allocated for ongoing projects.
“You have abandoned projects and part of the money is still there. You have projects abandoned from 10 years ago, and part of the money is still there. It has accumulated. You cannot utilise it.
“If you have an investment with this backlog — something you cannot use, you should not have access to the next one. Because we will learn how to use it when people fall for it. That bill is also there, and it will make it impossible for you to use it. You can’t account for the past. You cannot use it.”
Echoing similar concerns, Aminu Bello Masari, Chairman of the TETFund Board, urged for the removal of political interference from the education sector, stressing that long-term development could only be achieved if universities were allowed to operate with greater independence. He also suggested that universities begin exploring alternative revenue streams, rather than relying entirely on government support.
On the other hand, Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, affirmed the government’s commitment to improving the country’s education system through increased tax contributions.
He said, “As heads of TETFund beneficiary institutions, you play a pivotal role in actualising the mandate of the Fund.
“It is crucial that we engage constructively to set a clear course for the fund’s direction and operational priorities,” he said.
“TETFund’s purpose is to empower our nation’s human capital, addressing the urgent need for capable, skilled professionals across all sectors.
“Established in response to the deficits in our tertiary education sector, TETFund began as the Education Tax Fund in 1993, transitioning in 2011 to its current form with a commitment to enhancing the quality of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions through Education Tax contributions.
“The increase last year in the Education Tax from 2.5 per cent to three per cent, authorised by the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represents a significant stride for TETFund. This change reinforces the government’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s educational framework.
“We urge all stakeholders to actively engage in building these partnerships. Let us explore innovative ways to connect our institutions with industry leaders, fostering a symbiotic relationship that benefits both our students and the economy,” he added.
“This is a pivotal moment for our nation’s higher education. As we work to optimise TETFund’s impact, we must strengthen our partnerships with all stakeholders, including industry, to ensure that our universities are not only centers of learning but also engines of economic development.”
