The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto Zone, has urged the Federal Government not to replace the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), warning that such a move could devastate Nigeria’s public education system.
At a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Sokoto, the zonal Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, criticised the proposed tax reform bill, describing it as a threat to the survival of public universities.
He argued that TETFund, which has been instrumental in transforming Nigeria’s tertiary education since 1993, should not be undermined to finance NELFUND.
Sabo expressed concerns over the lack of stakeholder consultation, including ASUU, vice-chancellors, and pro-chancellors, before drafting the bill.
He noted that the proposal to phase out TETFund by 2030 and reduce its funding to 2% would cripple public institutions, where 90% of current physical structures were built through TETFund financing.
“Destroying TETFund is equivalent to destroying public universities,” Sabo asserted. He further stated that education financing should not burden students, especially with rising tuition fees forcing many to rely on loans.
He noted that the proposal to phase out TETFund by 2030 and reduce its funding to 2% would cripple public institutions, where 90% of current physical structures were built through TETFund financing.
“Destroying TETFund is equivalent to destroying public universities,” Sabo asserted. He further stated that education financing should not burden students, especially with rising tuition fees forcing many to rely on loans.
Citing Ghana’s successful replication of Nigeria’s TETFund through its VAT-funded Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Sabo suggested that the government could explore alternative funding sources for NELFUND without dismantling TETFund.
Sabo concluded by urging the government to prioritize grants over loans for students and to increase the education sector’s budgetary allocation, emphasizing that the future of Nigeria depends on a well-funded public education system.
