The Federal Government has directed all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to submit detailed reports on unutilised intervention funds received from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) within the next 30 days.
Speaking at a meeting with heads of tertiary institutions in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed concern over the persistent issue of unused allocations, describing it as a major challenge for the ministry.
He noted that funds earmarked for critical infrastructure development have remained dormant due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, delaying much-needed progress in higher education.
To address this, Alausa announced a series of new measures, including:
- The submission of reconciled reports on all unutilised TETFund allocations within 30 days, to be jointly verified.
- A strict policy against carrying over unused funds without solid justification, with the possibility of redirecting such funds to other priority projects.
- A requirement for procurement plans to align with approved interventions and for approvals to be expedited to avoid unnecessary delays.
The minister also revealed that capacity-building programmes will be introduced to improve project management, compliance, and reporting. These will be supported by mentorship initiatives and quarterly performance reviews to monitor progress. Institutions that fail to utilise allocated funds effectively will face sanctions.
To promote accountability, a public dashboard will be launched to display real-time data on fund disbursements and utilisation. Institutions will also be required to publish updates on their project progress.
Dr. Alausa stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the success of these reforms.
“TETFund must lead with professionalism, enforce compliance, and uphold transparency. Institutional leaders must instill a sense of urgency and accountability, while bursars, procurement officers, and project coordinators are expected to plan meticulously and report consistently,” he said.
He also urged auditors and oversight bodies to remain vigilant, flag irregularities, and ensure that every TETFund naira is used responsibly.
“This is about stewardship,” Alausa concluded. “Every fund disbursed under TETFund represents the trust of the Nigerian people, and we must honour that trust.”
