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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised a red flag against an alleged plan to abolish the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), describing the plan as “dangerous for the country’s tertiary education system.”

The union’s Calabar Zone, which comprises seven public universities in Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Abia states, expressed this concern after its zonal conference in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

In a statement, the union’s Zonal Coordinator, Happiness Uduk, condemned the alleged plan to abrogate what ASUU called the “live wire” of tertiary institutions in Nigeria by approving a zero allocation to TETFund from 2030. 

Uduk noted that TETFund is the major source of funding for public tertiary institutions and has been crucial in improving and maintaining standards in higher institutions.

He emphasized that allowing the proposed tax regime to cede the education tax, known as the Development Levy, to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) would be “unpatriotic.” 

Uduk specifically mentioned Section 59(3) of the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, which states that “only 50% of the Development Levy would be made available to TETFund in 2025 and 2026 while NITDA, NISENI, and NELFUND would share the remaining percentage.”

“ASUU notes with serious concern Section 59(3) of the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024,” Uduk said. 

The ASUU zonal coordinator urged governments, stakeholders, and well-meaning Nigerians to reject the proposed abrogation of TETFund, describing the move as “an ill will with dire consequences.”

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