The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called for the judicious use of interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, resources to tertiary institutions to foster development.
ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, made this appeal at the inauguration of the TETFund Board of Trustees (BOT) and the Governing Councils in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
He lamented that the funds are not currently being used effectively, pointing out that many projects on campuses from as far back as 2014 and 2015 remained incomplete.
According to him, TETFund is the only thing sustaining tertiary education in Nigeria, adding that the country’s educational system was in a dire state and required transformation.
“My prayer is that this council will contribute to transforming our educational system. When we were at the university, we had people from other countries in the same hostel and classrooms, with lecturers from around the world. Today, the situation is so dire that 90% of the lecturers in a typical university are from the same state.
“My prayer is that this council will contribute to transforming our educational system. When we were at the university, we had people from other countries in the same hostel and classrooms, with lecturers from around the world. Today, the situation is so dire that 90% of the lecturers in a typical university are from the same state.
“So, my advice is to use this money wisely for the benefit of future generations. Properly managed, TETFund resources can address many problems.
“However, currently, the funds are not being used effectively. Many campus projects from as far back as 2014 and 2015 remain incomplete. I appeal to the Minister and board members to assess how the funds have been used,” Prof. Osodeke said.