Over 9,000 Beneficiaries Receive Support Under Tinubu’s Tertiary Staff Fund

• Over 9,000 Beneficiaries Receive Support Under Tinubu’s Tertiary Staff Fund
• The figure represents 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants 
• Staff members can access zero-interest loans and welfare packages of up to ten million naira each

The Federal Ministry of Education has commenced the disbursement of funds under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a key initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving staff welfare, institutional productivity, and innovation across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Ministry confirmed that more than 9,000 staff members from federal and state-owned tertiary institutions have received financial support in the first year of implementation.

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The figure represents 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 institutions across the country.

Launched in August 2025 after a high-level stakeholder engagement held in July, the TISSF marks a major step towards fulfilling the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalising tertiary education through staff empowerment.

In its first year, the disbursement covers both academic and non-academic staff in a 30:70 ratio, reflecting what the Ministry described as its commitment to inclusive support across all categories of personnel.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, praised President Tinubu for what he described as a decisive show of leadership and delivery.

“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, and the Ministry of Education is profoundly grateful for his continuous support and commitment to staff welfare,” the Minister said.

The TISSF forms part of the broader Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), a policy framework designed to reposition education as a driver of innovation, skills development, and economic growth.

Through the programme, staff members can access zero-interest loans and welfare packages of up to ten million naira each. The fund is expected to help address challenges related to housing, education, healthcare, mobility, and small business development among tertiary institution workers.

Dr Alausa described the initiative as more than a financial intervention, noting that it aims to restore dignity to educators and rebuild the foundation of Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

“This Fund is not merely about disbursement; it is about restoring dignity, rewarding dedication, and rebuilding the foundation of our knowledge economy,” he said.

The Ministry also reiterated its commitment to transparent fund management, quarterly financial reporting, and continuous engagement with beneficiary institutions to ensure that every disbursement results in measurable improvement in welfare and productivity.