TETFund: Expert Faults ASUU’s Stand On Private Varsities

The visitor, McPherson University, Reverend Samuel Aboyeji, has faulted the opposition of the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the inclusion of private universities as beneficiaries of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The university administrator argued that TETfund was money realised from the private sector, stating that it would be unfair to exclude private universities as beneficiaries.

ASUU had at a two-day interactive session between TETFund and all unions of beneficiary institutions, kicked against plans to include private universities as beneficiaries of financial interventions by TETFund.

According to ASUU, the move would lead to the proliferation of private universities without quality.

Aboyeji, who is the general overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church, Nigeria told journalists at the commissioning of the CFM Hostel, built for the university that TETFund was generated from taxes on private companies and not government, oil money or federal allocation.

“For any union or association to hold such a view is nothing but a disservice to the country knowing very well this money is generated from the private sector so for the private universities to benefit should be a welcome development for those who meant well for our dear country.

“With the private universities benefitting it would go a long way in helping them towards giving our children the best of education, more so when there is no assistance coming to them from the government.”

The vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Francis Igbasan, in his remarks about the newly commissioned hostel, said the development of the university was paramount to him, noting that his decisions are geared towards positioning the university among the top five best in the country.