Tahir Mamman Inaugurates TETFUND Board, Others In Abuja, Emphasizes Need To Reposition Education Sector

Chairman and members of the newly inaugurated board of  the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and  members of the governing councils of some federal tertiary institutions have been tasked with putting their expertise to use and getting the nation’s education sector improved and repositioned.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman said this during the inauguration of the board of TETFund and the governing councils of some federal tertiary institutions in Abuja on Thursday.

TETFUND was established by the Federal Government in 2011 and the agency was given the mandate to disburse, manage, and monitor education tax to public  tertiary institutions in the country.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu  had a few days ago, announced the appointment of seven prominent Nigerians as Chairman and members of the board of the agency.

Chairman of the board of TETFUND, Alhaji Aminu Masari, had, at different times, served as  Katsina state Commissioner for Works , Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 , and governor of Katsina state from 2015 to 2023

 Members of the board are former Senator Sani Danladi, former rep Sunday Adepoju,  Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi, an aerospace engineer , who is based in the United States of America,  Esther Ukachukwu, Turaki Ibrahim, and Aboh Eduyok.

Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Maman has urged the Board members to justify the trust reposed in them and work towards addressing the challenges facing tertiary education in the country.

‘Your appointment is a clear recognition of your track records, established integrity, and experience. These appointments reflect the diversity of our nation, professions, expertise, and experience in various areas.

I want to thank you for accepting this invitation to join in the task of advancing our tertiary institutions so they can fulfill their commitment to quality teaching, learning, research, and service to our communities and our nation.

I urge you all to reciprocate the trust and confidence the government has placed in you by using your knowledge, skills, and experience to elevate the tertiary institutions to greater heights’ Maman submitted  on Thursday while listing the challenges facing tertiary institutions in the country to include unstable academic calendars and ‘carrying capacity’ .

The Governing Councils of the universities were also urged to consider the  unions as partners while disclosing that the federal government is in talks with  ASUU to stop their planned strike.

‘We’ve had some meetings already. Yes, yesterday, we spent some time discussing the issues and developed a very robust plan to address them. We hope that what we put in place yesterday will help us avoid any form of strike’ he said.

The minister urged members of the Governing Councils of the universities  to work together and follow due process while also ensuring that their appointment is justified.

 ‘Yes, councils have autonomy, but that autonomy is within the context of certain national legislation. For instance, financial regulations are nationwide and universal. There are certain things councils can do, certain things they will do and pass on. Even from the ministry, there are things you pass on to us, and we pass them further.

Use your contacts and network for the benefit of the universities. Do not merely focus on your allowances and privileges. Explore creative ways to bring resources to the universities’ he added.

 Reacting to the disconnection of the entire campus of the University of Lagos by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company despite paying an outstanding debt of N180 million ,Prof. Tahir Mamman  has also called for cheaper electricity tariff  for universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

‘The electricity company there disconnected that university from power because they have not paid their bills. Do you know what that bill is? Two months ago, the Vice- Chancellor reported to my office that she had a bill of N272 million for that month, for one month just July.

She screamed, of course, we all screamed with her. Only last week, she came back with another bad news she was given a bill of N472 million.

Since that time, she’s been paying about N180 million to that electricity company but that wasn’t sufficient for the electricity company, so, they went and disconnected that institution yesterday.

To me, it’s just insanity if an institution is paying that much and they think it’s not sufficient it’s just the height of insensitivity’ he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, congratulated members of the board and the  governing councils for getting nominated to serve in different capacities.

‘I have no doubt that you will work diligently to justify the confidence reposed in you by Mr. President. The education sector is critical to our national affairs.

It is the foundation for all our development efforts, and Nigeria, with its rapidly growing youthful population, needs to prepare our young people to seize opportunities both domestically and internationally while helping to address our national challenges’ he  said.  

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke emphasized the need for  judicious use of TETFund funds to foster development while noting  that the only thing sustaining tertiary education in Nigeria is the agency-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you