The Federal Government has commenced the release of payments to staff of tertiary institutions under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a new initiative aimed at improving staff welfare, institutional efficiency, and innovation across Nigeria’s higher education sector.
This was revealed in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo.
Quoting the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Boriowo noted that the programme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focused on enhancing the welfare of education workers nationwide.
According to Alausa, the initiative has now moved from planning to full-scale implementation, with over 9,000 tertiary institution staff already receiving payments in its first operational year.
He explained that the beneficiaries represent 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 federal and state-owned tertiary institutions across the country.
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Alausa added that the initial phase of the disbursement covers both academic and non-academic staff in a 30:70 ratio, reflecting the government’s intention to support all categories of workers in the nation’s higher education system.
“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,” Alausa said.
He described the scheme as more than just a financial relief effort, portraying it instead as a long-term investment in 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 added.
Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to transparency, assuring that quarterly financial reports, institutional engagement, and effective monitoring frameworks would be put in place to ensure proper fund utilization and repayment.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the initiative, which officially began in August 2025 after a stakeholder meeting held in July, is part of the broader Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
Under the scheme, eligible tertiary institution staff can access zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to meet essential welfare and productivity needs such as housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and small business ventures.
The Federal Government had earlier launched the TISSF on August 15, 2025, with Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa describing it as a direct response to the welfare and professional development needs of Nigeria’s tertiary education workforce.
