In a bold step to uplift Nigeria’s education sector, the Federal Government has launched the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a ₦10 million loan scheme designed to improve the welfare and productivity of staff in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
The initiative was unveiled at a high-level stakeholder engagement held in Abuja and is being spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the launch, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the fund as a strategic empowerment tool aimed at enhancing the livelihoods and professional growth of both academic and non-academic personnel.
> “TISSF is not just about welfare; it is about empowerment,” said Dr. Alausa. “We are ensuring our education workforce is supported to live better, grow professionally, and continue contributing meaningfully to institutional excellence.”
Under the scheme, eligible staff can access loans of up to ₦10 million, with a repayment limit set at 33.3% of their gross annual salary. The fund covers areas such as medical care, transportation, and small business ventures including poultry farming and other micro-enterprises.
To ensure transparency and effective implementation, the programme will be managed in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI), which will oversee loan disbursement and monitoring.
Also present at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, emphasized that the initiative was developed through inclusive consultations with unions, institutional leaders, and key stakeholders across the sector.
> “This reflects our commitment to participatory policymaking and results-driven implementation,” Prof. Ahmad said.
She added that a robust monitoring and evaluation framework has been developed to measure the programme’s long-term impact.
Key education stakeholders—including Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, and the SSA to the President on Student Engagement—welcomed the programme as timely and transformative.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated its dedication to working closely with stakeholders to ensure the successful rollout of TISSF and to build a more motivated and resilient education workforce.
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