By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, August 14, 2025 — The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has launched the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), offering interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible academic and non-academic staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The initiative, introduced under the National Education Sector Renewal Implementation (NESRI) framework, is designed to ease financial burdens, support career development, and improve the welfare of the workforce across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Launching the scheme in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described TISSF as “a strategic empowerment platform” aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Reform Agenda for Education. He stressed that the fund aims to help staff “serve students with renewed dedication and live with dignity and pride.”
The loan is capped at 33.3% of an applicant’s gross annual salary and is open to confirmed, full-time staff who are members of relevant staff associations such as ASUU, NASU, COEASU, and SSANIP, with at least five years to retirement. All federal tertiary institutions and one state-owned university, polytechnic, and college of education in each state are covered, totalling 248 institutions nationwide.
Repayments will be spread over five years, with a 12-month grace period, and deductions will be made directly from salaries through institutional bursaries.
Loan Benefits and Eligible Uses
Beneficiaries can access funds for:
Medical Support: Surgeries, emergency care, medication.
Family & Accommodation: Rent, home ownership, renovations.
Transportation: Vehicle purchases (including EVs), bikes, tricycles, CNG conversions.
Small Business & Agriculture: Poultry, fishing, crop farming, agro-processing.
Academic Growth: Professional certifications, degrees, and capacity-building programmes.
Applications are to be submitted online via www.tissf.boi.ng. The platform, developed in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI), allows staff to fill out a simple form, verify their identity, and have requests vetted securely.
Stakeholders Applaud Initiative
Representing the Minister, Permanent Secretary Abel Eniitan described the scheme as a “milestone in supporting the backbone of Nigeria’s education system.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services pledged legislative support, urging a review of minimum staff salaries.
Institutional heads, including the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, and the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Gidan-Madi, welcomed the intervention, describing it as a timely boost to staff morale.
BoI Managing Director Dr. Olasupo Olusi reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to ensuring smooth implementation, while Presidential Adviser Sunday Dare noted that similar proposals in the past had stalled under previous administrations.
Dr. Alausa warned institutional bursars to maintain integrity in administering deductions, stressing that misconduct would attract sanctions. “TISSF is more than a financial product; it is a workforce transformation tool,” he said. “By empowering staff to meet personal and professional needs without crippling financial strain, we secure the future of our students and strengthen the nation’s knowledge economy.”
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