The Federal Government has allocated N940.5 billion to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the 2025 budget, focusing on infrastructure upgrades and student support.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Rakiya Iliyasu, Director of Tertiary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, announced the funding at the 42nd Founders’ Day and 33rd Convocation of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) on Saturday.
The move is aimed at improving learning conditions in public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria. “Education remains a top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that our tertiary institutions meet global standards,” Tinubu stated.
Student Loan Fund Receives Over N104bn
Beyond infrastructure, the government is also investing in student support. So far, over N104 billion has been disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), benefitting more than 600,000 students nationwide.
“We are determined to make higher education accessible to all, regardless of financial background,” Tinubu emphasized, urging universities to align research with real-world challenges.
TETFund to Focus on Maintenance, Not New Buildings
In line with a January 2024 directive, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa confirmed that TETFund will not fund new construction projects in 2025. Instead, resources will be used to renovate existing facilities, ensuring efficient use of funds.
“One priority area is fixing infrastructures—rehabilitating, improving, and bringing them to a high standard,” Alausa stated. Lecture theatres, hostels, laboratories, and classrooms will be upgraded in public institutions across the country.
The government has proposed amendments to the TETFund Act, requiring 30% of its revenue to be allocated to NELFUND. Under the new bill, one-third of TETFund’s budget must be transferred before disbursement.
Additionally, the bill caps NELFUND’s administrative expenses at 5%, ensuring that the majority of funds directly support students rather than administrative costs.
For context, the government approved N643.4 billion for tertiary institutions in 2024. Universities received N1.9 billion each, while polytechnics and colleges of education got N1.16 billion and N1.39 billion, respectively.
With the 2025 budget nearly 50% higher, education stakeholders are hopeful that more universities will benefit from improved infrastructure and student funding.
