By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, Nigeria – July 27, 2025
The Federal Government has announced the launch of a landmark initiative the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) aimed at improving the welfare, productivity, and professional growth of staff across Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Unveiled during a high-level stakeholder engagement session in Abuja, the programme is being championed by the Federal Ministry of Education as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reposition the education sector.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a strategic step toward empowering both academic and non-academic personnel in the nation’s higher education system.
“TISSF is not just about welfare it is about empowerment,” Dr. Alausa stated. “We are ensuring our education workforce is supported to live better, grow professionally, and continue contributing meaningfully to institutional excellence.”
Under the scheme, eligible staff can access up to ₦10 million in loans, limited to 33.3% of their gross annual salary. The fund is designed to meet various needs including transportation, medical support, and small-scale ventures like poultry farming and micro-enterprises.
The programme will be executed in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), which will oversee loan disbursement to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficient delivery.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, emphasized that TISSF was the product of wide-ranging consultations with unions, institutional heads, and key stakeholders in the education sector.
“This reflects our commitment to inclusive, participatory policymaking and results-driven implementation,” she said.
Prof. Ahmad added that the programme is backed by a robust monitoring and evaluation framework designed to track its impact and ensure long-term sustainability.
Key stakeholders present at the launch including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts hailed the initiative as both timely and transformative.
They lauded the government’s commitment to boosting staff morale and enhancing institutional performance through financial empowerment and professional support.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its dedication to working closely with all partners to ensure the successful rollout of TISSF, with the ultimate goal of building a resilient, motivated, and empowered education workforce across Nigeria.
