Creating an ecosystem that provides the tools for tertiary institutions to become stronger and become self-sufficient in the long term should be one of the main objectives that the government has to face on
There is no doubt that public universities in Nigeria need more government funding to build critical infrastructure, create a world-class learning and teaching environment and support ground breaking research.
Increased funding will significantly improve the quality of research in Nigerian universities, provide top-notch learning and teaching environments and attract the best students, academics from Nigeria and around the world, and distinguish Nigerian universities on the road to world-class standards.
To this is end, the Federal government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) approved a new funding for institutions, giving them a boost in to thrive with the aim to meet global standard.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, at the Annual Strategic Planning Workshop Organised for the Fund beneficiary institutions in Abuja said a total sum of N320,345,040, 835 (Three hundred and twenty billion, three hundred and forty-five million, forty thousand, eight hundred and thirty-five Naira only) was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Echono said out of the money, each university shall get, for the Year 2023 intervention cycle, the total sum of N1,154,732,133.00, each Polytechnic shall get N699,344,867.0, while each College of education shall get N800,862,602.
The meeting, according to the executive secretary was an avenue to receive feedback and evaluate the performance of its intervention lines as experience has shown that such interaction between the Fund and beneficiary institutions affords the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas and has indeed helped stimulate debates on how best it can improve the Fund’s intervention lines in various institutions across the country.
“I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has approved the 2023 disbursement guidelines in the total sum of N320,345,040, 835. (Three hundred and twenty billion, three hundred & forty-five million. Forty thousand, eight hundred and thirty-five Naira only).
“On the basis of this, each university shall get, for the Year 2023 intervention cycle, the total sum of N1,154,732,133.00. This comprises N954,732,123.00 as annual direct disbursement and N200 million as zonal intervention. Similarly, each Polytechnic shall get N699,344,867.00 comprising of N569,344,807.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130 million as zonal intervention, while each College of education shall get N800,862,602 comprising of N670,862,602.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130 million as zonal intervention.
“It is pertinent to note that this represents the highest disbursement to each beneficiary institution since inception of the Fund.
“I should also place on record that the fortunes of the Nigerian tertiary education sector improved significantly under the Buhari administration, Between 2015 to date (8 years), the total sum of N1,702 trillion has been disbursed as EDT collection to public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education compared to a total sum of N1.249 trillion disbursed from the inception of the Fund in 1993 up to 2014 (21 years).
“This remarkable success is due to sustained efforts at expanding and increasing efficiency of collection of the Education Tax and added impetus is the gracious approval of Mr. President for an increase in education tax from 2.0% to 2.5% in the year 2021.
“We are grateful to all the key actors, notably Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education. Mrs. Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna, Minister of Finance, the Chairmen and members of the Senate and House Committees on Finance and my brother Mohammed Nami, Chairman. Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS),” Echono said.
Furthermore, he appealed to President Buhari, as a parting gift to the education sector and a fitting finale to his manifest desire to improve education funding in the country, ascent to the Finance Act 2023, which provides for a further increase in education tax from 2.5% to 3%.
“Recall that at the Year 2022 workshop, several crucial issues were discussed. It provided me with the opportunity to listen to several complaints and problems facing several beneficiary institutions and we were able to respond appropriately to many of the issues raised and committed to looking into those that required our careful examination and review.
“Among some of the problems discussed were the issues of abandoned or non-completion of projects in institutions which constituted a serious challenge to the Board of Trustees in ensuring allocative efficiency and value for disbursed funds.
“We have since reviewed our disbursement process on the internal audit clearance requirement and also engaged in a one-on-one meeting with affected institutions with the aim of resolving this persistent problem. Furthermore, we organized a workshop anchored by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to assist beneficiary institutions.
“Speedily access, procure and complete their projects. I want to believe that these measures have improved the situation, as I reiterate our agreement with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) that all our intervention projects should be procured through open competitive bidding to expand opportunities for participation and enhance efficient, timely and cost-effective project delivery. Beneficiary institutions are therefore advised to advertise their procurements early and avoid dilatory tactics in their procurement process.
“During the Year 2022 workshop, I also took time to discuss my deep interest in the promotion of research and innovation in our tertiary institutions, and to develop the information and communication technology (ICT) capacities of our Institutions. The payment delays associated with academic staff training and development were also discussed and some suggestions and feedback were taken as a result of which we now make payments on tuition fees for scholars directly to the training institutions.
“We also engaged you on matters related to manuscript and book development and are glad to say that this intervention line has improved appreciably. We shall in the coming months propose a more robust and detailed interactive workshop with you to discuss further on these and other important issues relating to the intervention lines and projects with the aim of a better sensitization and nimbleness in implementation,” he added.
Distributing the 2023 allocation letters to the institutions, the executive secretary also informed that the Fund has kept its promise to constantly improve its operations and reduce processing as stated in several fora.
“My commitment to and prioritization of the knowledge component of our interventions has not waned. This you will see in our deliberate provisions for entrepreneurship and innovation hubs, research laboratories and modern demonstration farms, capacity building
on research, ICT and other related fields in our special and designated intervention lines.
“We are reviewing and evaluating all TETFund Centers of Excellence with a view to repositioning them to function effectively as envisioned at their establishment. My staff shall be visiting all institutions with TETFund centers of Excellence to assess their needs and requirements for optimal performance.”
He reminded the gathering of the significance of the workshop while urging beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity to discuss some of the issues affecting their institutions and interventions or operations.
“I will welcome and cherish all contributions from participants and heads of institutions present at this workshop including constructive criticism where necessary. I urge you to make the workshop as interactive as possible.”
In concluding, he appreciated the efforts of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, who have been valuable partners and stakeholders in the delivery of the Fund’s mandate and particularly for the increase in collection which surpassed the target for the Year 2022.
“I believe that they would do even more for the Year 2023 collection as we look forward to our desired goal of achieving the N500 billion Education tax collection in the nearest future. I call on all heads of institutions here present to ensure the smooth, timely, judicious, and effective implementation and utilization of the year 2023 intervention allocation, to make the needed impact in our respective tertiary institutions.”
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo urged the beneficiary institutions to use the intervention judiciously, saying that the country is no longer looking for paper presentations but what one can do with his brain and hands.
Executive Secretary, National Board For Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje stressed the need for more funding of Polytechnics, saying that technicians and technologists are critical in discoveries across the globe.
Bugaje said the Industrial Revolution which everybody kick started by James Watt, a technician.
Also, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed expressed satisfaction in the improvement of tertiary institutions’ interventions as the highest so far in the history of the Fund.
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