The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano Zone, has raised a red flag over the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, describing it as a “clandestine move” by the Federal Government to abolish the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The union argues that this will reverse decades of progress in Nigerian public tertiary education.
Addressing journalists in Kano, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Comrade Abdulkadir Muhammad, expressed grave concerns about Section 59(3) of the proposed bill, which outlines a phased reduction of TETFund’s funding until it receives zero allocation by 2030.
“Gentlemen of the press, this bill is nothing short of an attempt to systematically kill TETFund, the brainchild of ASUU, which has salvaged Nigeria’s public university system from imminent collapse over the years,” Muhammad declared.
A legacy under threat
Comrade Muhammad reminded stakeholders of TETFund’s origin as the Education Trust Fund (ETF), established in 1993 following ASUU’s recommendations during the Babangida regime. The fund was created to address the chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
“Since its establishment, TETFund has been the most successful agency in providing interventions to Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions,” he stated. “It has financed physical infrastructure, library development, research, staff training, conference attendance, and manuscript development. Its achievements have far surpassed those of annual budgetary allocations to education.”
The ASUU-Kano zone lamented that the proposed bill would channel only 50% of the Development Levy to TETFund in 2025 and 2026, while the remaining percentage would be split among other agencies, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). By 2030, TETFund would receive no allocation at all.
“This move is anti-poor, unpatriotic, and destructive to the survival of public tertiary education in Nigeria,” Muhammad emphasized.
The consequences of abolishing TETFund
The union warned that dismantling TETFund would undermine decades of progress in repositioning Nigerian public universities for global competitiveness.
“The impact of TETFund is visible on every public tertiary institution in Nigeria. Abrogating it will take public tertiary education many years backward and subvert the modest gains made so far,” Muhammad argued.
ASUU contended that TETFund’s contributions have filled critical gaps left by the persistently low budgetary allocations to education in Nigeria.
Call to action
The ASUU-Kano Zone called on the National Assembly and the National Economic Council to exercise their constitutional powers to halt the enactment of the bill.
“We urge well-meaning Nigerians and other stakeholders to prevail on the Federal Government to withdraw this bill immediately,” Muhammad appealed.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the gains of TETFund and ensuring the survival of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.
“We will not fold our arms and watch the systematic killing of TETFund, a lifeline for public universities,” Muhammad vowed.
As the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 moves through the National Assembly, the ASUU-Kano Zone’s stance adds to the growing debate on the future of education funding in the country.
