TETFund Warns Tertiary Institutions May Lose Funding Over Low Enrollment, Poor Accountability

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has cautioned beneficiary institutions that they risk losing future allocations if they fail to meet enrollment targets, uphold academic performance, or properly retire funds.

The warning was issued by TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, during a one-day strategic engagement held in Abuja on Monday with Heads of Institutions, Bursars, and Heads of Procurement from tertiary institutions across the country.

Echono expressed concern over dwindling student numbers, citing a polytechnic in the Southeast operating with just 30 students for four years while still receiving public funding. “This development is embarrassing, particularly for a region known for its strong educational culture. It undermines our mission and attracts unnecessary scrutiny from the presidency and the public,” he stated.

He also criticized the failure of some institutions to access or properly utilize allocated funds. According to him, unutilized or mismanaged funds will be reallocated, and institutions cannot shift blame for abandoned projects to past administrations. “When you inherit an office, you inherit both assets and liabilities,” he said, urging institutions to take ownership and resolve lingering infrastructure issues.

TETFund also announced a shift in its Academic Staff Training and Development programme, suspending the foreign training component to prioritize domestic capacity building. “Our universities must be centres of excellence, not just hubs of aspiration,” Echono said.

In response to growing concerns about the proliferation of tertiary institutions, Echono defended the government’s expansion strategy, noting that nearly 60% of Nigeria’s population is youth. “If we don’t create space for them, the consequences will be dire,” he warned.

Representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) also praised TETFund’s contributions to the sector but called for increased transparency and adherence to procurement laws.