The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a key initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving staff welfare and boosting productivity across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The programme, launched in August 2025 after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in July, has moved into its implementation phase with over 9,000 staff beneficiaries receiving payments in the first year. This represents 28% of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 federal and state tertiary institutions nationwide.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the first-year distribution reflects a 30:70 ratio of academic to non-academic staff, demonstrating the government’s inclusive approach to supporting all categories of personnel within the tertiary education sector.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (FAMedS), CON, commended President Tinubu for his leadership and commitment to education sector reforms.
> “The President is delivering for our tertiary institutions — for welfare, for productivity, and for the future. Within just four months, payments have started going out. This is a President that delivers,”
Dr. Alausa said, expressing the Ministry’s appreciation for the administration’s support.
The TISSF forms part of the broader Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) — a comprehensive framework designed to enhance staff morale, institutional performance, and national innovation capacity.
Through zero-interest loans and welfare support packages, the Fund provides up to ₦10 million per staff member to address key needs such as housing, education, healthcare, mobility, and small business development.
Dr. Alausa noted that the Fund goes beyond financial assistance, describing it as an effort to “restore dignity, reward dedication, and rebuild the foundation of Nigeria’s knowledge economy.”
The Ministry pledged full transparency in the management of the Fund, promising quarterly financial reports and continuous engagement with participating institutions to ensure accountability, sustainability, and the widest possible impact.
— Boriowo Folasade,
Director, Press and Public Relations,
Federal Ministry of Education
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