The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has urged the Federal Government to ensure strict and judicious use of the N320.3bn intervention fund approved for tertiary institutions in the country.
The executive secretary of Tertiary Intervention Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny Echono, at the annual strategic planning workshop with heads of beneficiary institutions in Abuja, announced
N320,345,040,835 as the 2023 intervention funds for public tertiary education institutions.
In reaction to the above, the national President of (NAUS), Comrade Obaji Marshall commended President Muhammadu Buhari and while urging the government to ensure students are involved in the disbursement and expenditure of the funds in the various universities, for appropriate and lasting impact on students welfare.
The NAUS National President said in a press statement released on Saturday; “The news of the disbursement approval of the 2023 Tertiary Intervention Fund is a welcome and timely development, because all over the country and across interest groups, the clamour for improved funding for tertiary institutions has been loud, especially in Nigerian Universities where the need for more education infrastructure and upward review on students welfare on and off campus has become a necessity.
“Therefore, on behalf of all concerned stakeholders and the leadership of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), I send commendations to the Federal Government and relevant authorities.”
He further called on various University Management Boards to ensure that students are carried along in the disbursement and fund’s expenditure, in order to create a sense of belonging within the university community, and to ensure that relevant infrastructure and welfare development was effected, to impact on students directly and positively.
“It is important and mandatory for students to be involved in the disbursement and expenditure of these funds in the various universities, for appropriate and lasting impact on students welfare and educational activities.
Comrade Obaji, a student of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, also called on Presidents and members of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arm of Students Union Governments in Universities and NAUS Chapter Presidents across the country, to pay keen attention to the disbursement and deployment of funds.
” In view of the development, I request and mandate all Students Union Presidents and Executives, Leaders and Members of Union Parliaments, Judicial Officers of the Students Union, Faculty and Departmental Association Leaders, and NAUS Chapter Presidents across all universities in the Country, to pay close attention to the management of their various schools over the TETFUND disbursement and expenditure.
“We must ensure that students are carried along in this matter, because without students there would be no Lecturers and Universities, and without Universities there would be no TETFUND.”
