Governors exploit TETFund, ASUU president blasts state university proliferation for profit

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has accused state governors of establishing universities they cannot sustain, solely to tap into the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Osodeke’s remarks came during his appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program on Thursday.

Osodeke highlighted that the TETFund, intended as an intervention fund for public universities, is being misused by politicians and civil servants through dubious procurement and contract fraud.

“Any governor today establishing a university is eyeing TETFund as a source of funding,” Osodeke stated, emphasizing that the fund was meant to supplement, not replace, government funding.

He criticized the political and bureaucratic circles for their relentless pursuit of these funds, undermining the fund’s original purpose.

TETFund, established to support public tertiary institutions through infrastructure rehabilitation and other projects, derives its main income from a 2% education tax paid by Nigerian-registered companies. However, allegations of embezzlement and fraud have plagued the fund, prompting calls for greater transparency.

Osodeke proposed the creation of a structured process involving stakeholders to ensure transparent allocation and utilization of TETFund resources. “There should be stakeholders’ meetings to assess what you want to do with the funds,” he suggested, advocating for the involvement of the university community, including lecturers and student groups, to curb corruption.

He further argued that allowing university councils to manage their projects with stakeholder involvement would prevent situations where TETFund representatives dictate project terms and appoint themselves as contractors.

ASUU’s dedication to the interests of the common man was also highlighted by Osodeke, who asserted that without ASUU’s efforts, public universities in Nigeria might have ceased to exist. He criticized the federal government for its indifference toward improving the country’s tertiary education system and for failing to meet ASUU’s long-standing demands.

Reflecting on a recent meeting between ASUU members and federal government representatives, Osodeke noted it was the first official engagement with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The discussions, which included Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman and his team, covered various unresolved issues from 2009, such as the negotiation of agreements, withheld salaries, and earned academic allowances.

Osodeke concluded that ASUU would consult with its members and make a decision within the next four weeks, underscoring the union’s commitment to advocating for a better education system in Nigeria.