The Academic Staff Union of Universities has described the alleged plots to abolish the Tertiary Education Trust Fund as a disaster for Nigerian’s education system.
ASUU Calabar Zone, stated this in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, after its zonal conference on Monday.
The body noted that danger awaits the country’s tertiary education if TETFund is removed.
In a communique issued after the meeting signed by the Zonal Coordinator, Happiness Uduk, the union condemned the abrogation of the trust fund which it described as “live-wire” of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
ASUU advocated that more fund should be allocated to TETFund, saying it would enable it to improve the universities and by so doing, reduce the mass exodus of Nigerian students abroad.
The zone is composed of seven public universities in Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Abia States including Abia State University, Akwa Ibom State University, Ebonyi State University, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, University of Calabar, University of Cross River State, and University of Uyo.
ASUU described the component of the proposed Nigerian Tax Bill, which is before the National Assembly seeking to abolish the fund as a dangerous policy and a last blow to break the backbone of tertiary education in Nigeria, which TETFund has sustained over the years.
Uduk said TETFUND is the major source of funding in public tertiary institutions and has been essential for the improvement and maintenance of standards in higher educational institutions.
He described as unpatriotic the proposed new tax regime where education tax, called development levy, used to bankroll TETFUND’s programmes owing to dearth and decay of educational infrastructures will now be ceded to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
“ASUU notes with serious concern Section 59(3) of the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, which specifically states that only 50% of the Development Levy would be made available to TETFund in 2025 and 2026 while NITDA, NISENI, and NELFUND would share the remaining percentage,” the union said.
ASUU, therefore, called on governments, stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to reject the abrogation of TETFUND, describing the move as an ill wind with dire consequences.
It further noted that the TETFUND Act has not been repealed and taking funds from the Education Tax (Development levy) to fund other agencies not provided in the Act is unlawful and in contravention of the extant laws of the land.
