By Atoyebi Nike
In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has introduced the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF). The initiative was officially launched during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held in Abuja.
According to a statement signed on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the scheme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is part of ongoing efforts to reposition the education sector.
“TISSF is not just about welfare. It is about empowerment,” Alausa said. “We are ensuring that our education workforce is supported to live well, grow professionally, and continue contributing meaningfully to institutional excellence.”
TISSF is a welfare-focused loan initiative that provides up to ₦10 million per beneficiary, capped at 33.3% of their gross annual salary. It supports needs such as transportation, medical expenses, and small-scale ventures like poultry farming.
The scheme is being implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry, which will oversee loan disbursements to guarantee transparency and accountability.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, explained that TISSF was developed through consultations with institutional heads, staff unions, and other stakeholders. She said a monitoring and evaluation system has been built into the framework to ensure long-term success.
“The programme reflects our commitment to inclusive, participatory policymaking and results-driven implementation,” Ahmad added.
Key participants at the event including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Executive Secretary of TETFund, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, as well as vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts expressed support for the fund. They described it as timely and essential for boosting staff morale and enhancing performance across tertiary institutions.
The Ministry pledged to continue working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the smooth rollout of the initiative and build a more resilient and motivated education workforce.
