FG votes N95.6bn intervention funds to tertiary institutions

THE Federal Government, through the Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has earmarked a
whopping N95.653 billion for intervention in
universities, polytechnics and colleges of education
in the country.
Out of this figure, N70.653 billion is the TETFund's
annual allocation to beneficiary institutions, while the
remaining N25 billion is for the Special High Impact
project in selected tertiary institutions across the six
geopolitical zones.
Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed
Rufa'i, made this known in Abuja, on Tuesday, at the
TETFund annual strategic planning workshop with
federal and state's beneficiary institutions.
She noted that the allocation to beneficiary
institutions had increased by 46.33 per cent for
universities, 44.17 per cent for polytechnics and
72.11 per cent for colleges of education compared to
last year.
The minister, however, warned against
misapplication of the funds. "In applying the
resources, I must emphasise the administration's
zero tolerance for corruption in all ramifications,"
she stressed.
According to the breakdown, each beneficiary
university will receive the sum of N598 million in the
normal intervention, each polytechnic has N339.5
million and each college of education will receive
N321 million.
She urged the beneficiary institutions to properly
prioritise and to apply the funds directly to add
value to teaching and learning.
She advised them to ensure that post-graduate
training for academic staff, research and scholarly
publications were effected.
On the TETFund special high impact which was
introduced in 2009, the minister said the intention
was to systematically upgrade the infrastructural and
instructional facilities in institutions of higher
learning in order to further encourage the training of
high level manpower for the nation and the eventual
emergence of centres of excellence.
She disclosed that the N25 billion allocated for
special impact programme, was for intervention for
12 institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the
country, with each zone having a university,
polytechnic or college of education as the case may
be.
According to the breakdown, each university is
allocated a sum of N3 billion while each college of
education and polytechnic will get N1 billion each.
In his address on the occasion, the executive
Secretary of TETFund, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu,
expressed the need for proper planning so as to get
the desired outcome in quality education in the
country.