The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on vice-chancellors to take the lead in safeguarding the future of Nigerian universities.
The union expressed concern over the continued reliance on external forces and the stagnation of resources, which it warned could hinder the growth and development of the tertiary education sector.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, made this appeal during a one-day strategic interaction with heads of beneficiary institutions organized by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja.
Osodeke emphasized the need for university leaders to be proactive and assertive in advocating for their institutions, rather than passively waiting for others to negotiate their fate.
He warned that the proposed tax change to TETFund could affect funding for universities.
Prof Osodeke said tax reductions may seem beneficial to industries, but they risked crippling higher education funding.
“I want to say that we have a lot of problems. If we don’t work hard, we cannot be sitting here in the next six years. Nobody will be here in the next six years,” he said.
“Whether we will be here or not in the next six years will depend on the National Assembly. I am so happy the Senate and the House of Representatives are here. The information available to us as a union is that there are two sets of bills in the National Assembly.
“One from the executive and one from the legislature, all concerning TETFund. The one from the executive arm of government indicates a page, out of 260 tax reviews, just a page in it. I am very sure the President will not have the details to look at when he is reading.
“And what is there? By the year 2025, they will increase the percentage of tax paid by industries to four per cent. TETFund will receive 50 per cent of it. By 2027, TETFund will be reduced to three per cent from four per cent.
“It should not be given to a bank to lend out as loans. When I look at this so-called NELFund as a bank, the money will not be given to a bank to lend to students. That bill is there.
“And all of us, if we still care about Nigerian universities, we must make sure that this bill does not pass at the National Assembly.
“Once it gets through, Nigerian universities will stop. So when you hear our team talking, this is what we are talking about,” Osodeke said.
He added, “We found that there is a lot of money stuck in the central bank. Over the past 20 years, many universities have not been able to utilise it. Let’s talk to ourselves.
“You have abandoned projects and part of the money is still there. You have projects abandoned from 10 years ago, and part of the money is still there. It has accumulated. You cannot utilise it.
“If you have an investment with this backlog — something you cannot use, you should not have access to the next one. Because we will learn how to use it when people fall for it. That bill is also there, and it will make it impossible for you to use it. You can’t account for the past. You cannot use it.”
The Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board, Aminu Bello Masari, has called for the depoliticization of the education sector to facilitate meaningful development. Masari emphasized the need to eliminate political interference in educational policies and practices.
“Let me start by commending ASUU for creating this intervention agency 21 years ago. And the fund has kept faith with the low establishment rate in our higher institutions.
“That’s why we have some of the best institutions in the country. After 21 years, some institutions, with no apologies, and some people outside, see that the fund is not just an intervention agency, but an agency that must shield its own responsibilities in education, which I believe is right.
“I think it is high time we start to think, especially you, about how to fund education in a sustainable way. We see intervention.
“Believe me, after two or three months, I, as chairman, receive requests from institutions, especially those that know me or know someone who knows me.”
Executive Secretary Sonny Echono described the strategic engagement as a significant milestone, marking a new chapter for the board.
With the recent increase in education tax from 2.5% to 3%, TETFund is positioned to make a more substantial impact on tertiary education. Echono emphasized that the additional funds will be utilized to enhance infrastructure, strengthen academic programs, and expand access to higher education for all students.
“As heads of TETFund beneficiary institutions, you play a pivotal role in actualising the mandate of the Fund.
“It is crucial that we engage constructively to set a clear course for the fund’s direction and operational priorities,” he said.
“TETFund’s purpose is to empower our nation’s human capital, addressing the urgent need for capable, skilled professionals across all sectors.
“Established in response to the deficits in our tertiary education sector, TETFund began as the Education Tax Fund in 1993, transitioning in 2011 to its current form with a commitment to enhancing the quality of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions through Education Tax contributions.
“The increase last year in the Education Tax from 2.5 per cent to three per cent, authorised by the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represents a significant stride for TETFund. This change reinforces the government’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s educational framework.
“We urge all stakeholders to actively engage in building these partnerships. Let us explore innovative ways to connect our institutions with industry leaders, fostering a symbiotic relationship that benefits both our students and the economy,” he added.
