The Federal Government has given all tertiary institutions in Nigeria a 30-day deadline to submit detailed reports on unutilised allocations from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with a warning that dormant funds may be withdrawn and reassigned to higher-priority projects. The directive was issued during a meeting in Abuja led by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, as part of renewed efforts to improve efficiency in the use of public funds in the education sector.
According to the ministry, the move is intended to tackle persistent delays in fund utilisation, which have continued despite the pressing need for infrastructure and academic development across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Institutions have been cautioned that rollover of funds without solid justification will no longer be permitted, and noncompliance could lead to financial reallocations.
To improve oversight and transparency, the government plans to introduce quarterly reviews and capacity-building initiatives focused on project management, compliance, and reporting. Additionally, a public dashboard will be launched to display real-time data on TETFund disbursements and utilisation, allowing greater visibility into how institutions are managing their allocations.
This latest directive follows ongoing concerns raised by TETFund over the large volume of unspent funds, reportedly amounting to over ₦600 billion. The Ministry reiterated that optimal use of TETFund resources is essential in addressing the systemic challenges in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
