Lagos, Nigeria— The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos Zone, has cautioned the Federal Government against replacing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) with the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund), arguing that both serve distinct purposes crucial to Nigeria’s education sector.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Zonal Coordinator Prof. Adelaja Odukoya highlighted concerns about the proposed Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly. He emphasized that phasing out TETFund in favor of NELFund would harm the education system and perpetuate social inequalities.
“TETFund enhances educational quality and opportunities by funding facilities and learning resources. Conversely, NELFund promotes a culture of student debt, which could discourage low-income families from pursuing higher education and exacerbate socioeconomic inequalities,” Odukoya said.
He warned that diverting Development Levy funds to NELFund would lead to exorbitant tuition fees and the collapse of public tertiary institutions.
“Without TETFund, many public institutions would lack basic facilities. Anything new or decent on campuses today is often funded by TETFund. Eliminating it would undo years of progress,” Odukoya stated.
ASUU urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reconsider the plan, emphasizing the societal benefits of TETFund, such as improved public health, reduced crime, and greater civic engagement, which would be lost under an individual-focused loan scheme like NELFund.
The union pledged to oppose any move to sacrifice TETFund for NELFund, calling it a threat to Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
By Enoch Odesola| January 19, 2025
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