The Federal Government has released a total of N11.8 billion to 6,842 academic and non-academic staff across Nigerian tertiary institutions under its Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
The scheme, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, is designed to improve the welfare, career growth, and financial stability of workers in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Launched in August 2025, the fund offers interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible staff. So far, beneficiaries have been drawn from 141 institutions nationwide.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that about 34,000 applicants from 219 institutions have been verified under the programme. Federal university staff account for the largest share of applicants at 59 per cent, followed by polytechnic staff at 23 per cent and colleges of education at 18 per cent.
To qualify, applicants must have a minimum of five years remaining before retirement.
In addition to the loan scheme, the government has distributed 240 e-tricycles to 12 institutions as part of the broader Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
Other programmes under the initiative include the EduRevamp Teacher Platform, a digital training system introduced in early 2026 to enhance teachers’ professional development. The platform currently has 37,000 registered users, with 18,000 fully enrolled in its training modules, offering access to multimedia lessons, case studies, and certification.
Also featured is the School Safety Portal, developed in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to strengthen security management in schools. The portal currently contains data on over 156,000 geolocated schools across the country.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.