The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has cautioned the National Assembly and Federal Government against undermining the effectiveness of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Prof. Abdullahi Sabo, ASUU Coordinator, Sokoto Zone, made the call at a press conference in Sokoto.
Sabo called on the legislative to reject any provision of the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 which would undermines TETFund’s existence.
” Section 59 (3) of the proposed bill specifically stipulates that only 50 per cent of the Development Levy would be allocated to TETFund in the years 2025 and 2026, with NITDA, NASENI, and NELFUND sharing the remaining percentages.
” TETFund is scheduled to receive 66.7 per cent in the years 2027, 2028, and 2029 of assessment”, but 0% in the year 2030 of assessment and thereafter, ” Sabo said.
He stressed that it is clear that the tax bill proposes the abolition of the Education Tax, which consequently implies that the Education Tax, referred to as the Development Levy and utilized to finance TETFund’s initiatives.
He explained that funds would be redirected to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
According to him, the consequence of this new taxation system is that starting from 2030, all proceeds generated from the Development Levy will be channeled to NELFUND.
” This development can be likened to sacrificing a parent to nurture a newborn child, an act that is not only unethical but also contrary to the principles of natural justice.
” ASUU Sokoto Zone views this development as not only disconcerting but also detrimental to our national development aspirations.
” This is due to the potential threat posed by the proposed tax system to the sustenance of TETFund, ” the Coordinator added.
He noted that TETFund has been playing a pivotal role in repositioning Nigeria’s tertiary education for global competitiveness and development.
Sabo highlighted that TETFund has been the cornerstone of infrastructural development, postgraduate training, and research capacity enhancement in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions over the past 15 years.
He positioned that diverting any portion of the Education Tax to serve another agency not stipulated in the TETFund Act of 2011 is unlawful and should not be condoned.
According to the coordinator, safeguarding TETFund is vital to securing the future of education and fostering sustainable national development.
” TETFund at present provides support to 244 public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, comprising 96 Universities, 72 Polytechnics, and 76 Colleges of Education.
” A further breakdown of these institutions reveals that 49 are Federal Universities, 47 State Universities, 34 Federal Polytechnics, 38 State Polytechnics, 28 Federal Colleges of Education, and 48 State Colleges of Education, all of which benefit from the fund, ” he said.
The Sokoto Zone ASUU Branch comprised members from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State University, Federal University Gusau, Federal University Dutsinma and Umaru Musa University Katsina.
Others are Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State University Alero and Federal University of Agriculture Zuru.
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