A coalition of civil society organizations, led by the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pay close attention to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The group believes that the problems within TETFund could hinder the President’s efforts to improve tertiary education in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Comrade Danesi Momoh, Dr. Abdulquadir Lawal, and Ambassador Olukolade Akindele, the coalition highlighted their concerns about the state of TETFund. They praised President Tinubu for his dedication to educational development, noting his efforts to address the challenges he inherited in the education sector.
“Without doubt, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is paying far more than a passing attention on the education sector and educational matters. Though he inherited an education sector that is deficit in many aspects, his commitment to turning things around is visible. He has always maintained that without quality education, the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda cannot be met. Consequently, he has been hammering on policies that will expand both access and facilities in the education sector,” the statement read.
Despite the President’s commitment, the coalition expressed concern about the ongoing crisis within TETFund. They alleged that the agency is plagued by corruption and undue political interference, which has negatively affected its ability to support infrastructure and human capacity development in tertiary institutions.
“Unfortunately and very sadly however, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) which acts as the highest bridge to infrastructural and human capacity development deficit in the tertiary Institutions is in an unending crisis, caused by an alleged endemic corruption as well as undue politicization of its activities and programmes,” the statement continued.
The coalition regretted that instead of addressing these issues, the leadership of TETFund has allegedly been ignoring them, with some lawmakers complicit in the situation. The group has pledged to compile evidence of the issues within TETFund and present it to President Tinubu, urging him to take immediate action to address the problems.