The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on TETFund and Other Services, Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha has called on all stakeholders to support the sustenance of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
This is even as she expressed hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would support the continued existence of the Fund, which she said has become the live wire of tertiary education in Nigeria.
Hon. Onuoha made the call while speaking at the inauguration of three TETFund-sponsored projects at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki recently.
The Committee Chairman who was speaking against the backdrop of the Tax Reform Bill at the National Assembly stated that considering the impactful role TETFund has played in the development of tertiary education in the country, it should be sustained and further strengthened.
“TETFund has become the life wire of tertiary education in Nigeria and therefore deserves to be sustained. I say this from the legislature and as the oversight committee, having toured the length and breadth of Nigeria to oversee these projects.
“It is therefore not right that the child you have nurtured to grow will be starved of life or the air with which the child deserves to live.
“I believe that the President is a father, and he is a listening President, and he has listened to the reports just as the bill is being read today for the second time in the House of Representatives.
“When it gets to the committee stage, I will be one of those who will champion that you don’t throw away the baby with the bathwater
“All that needs to be done, all that has been complained about by stakeholders regarding substandard projects, abandonment, and delay in accessing projects—all of these are the reasons the government and the legislature embark on oversight,” she said.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, who was represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc. Babatunde Olajide commended the university authorities for prompt execution of the three projects, which amounted to ₦1,339,791,726.06.
He stated that the Fund would always engage with its beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years.
He also announced the Federal Government’s directive that TETFund allocation for physical infrastructure in 2025 would be utilized only for maintenance of existing structures.
“Let me use this opportunity to inform you that the government has directed that the 2025 intervention allocation for physical infrastructure be utilised for the comprehensive rehabilitation/upgrade of old, dilapidated infrastructures, in view of the massive and embarrassing level of decay of existing buildings in our institutions.
“The purpose of this is to give the learning environment a facelift that is conducive for teaching, learning, and research, comparable to what is obtainable abroad. Consequently, no new structures are to be built with the upcoming year 2025 TETFund allocations for physical infrastructure,” he stated.
In his remarks, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Patricia Obila congratulated the university community for the successful delivery of the projects. He also commended TETFund for its support for infrastructural development in its Beneficiary Institutions across the country.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Chigozie Ogbu expressed appreciation to TETFund for its support in the provision of infrastructure in the institution, which he noted has resulted in promoting a conducive learning environment for students.
He also commended Governor Nwifuru for his commitment to education, which he said has led to the transformation being witnessed in the university.
