Varsities, polys get N95bn intervention fund (All of which will be embezzled)

Posted by admin Education, Latest Politics Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has earmarked N95bn for intervention in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Out of this figure, N70bn is the TETFund’s annual allocation to institutions, while the remaining N25bn is for the Special High Impact project in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the TETFund annual strategic planning workshop with federal and state beneficiary institutions.

She said the allocation had increased by 46.33 per cent for universities, 44.17 per cent for polytechnics and 72.11 per cent for colleges of education compared to last year.

The minister warned against misapplication of the fund, stressing government’s zero tolerance for corruption.

According to the breakdown, each beneficiary university will receive N598m; each polytechnic N339.5m; and college of education, N321m.

She urged the institutions to apply the fund to teaching and learning as well as research and scholarly publications.

Rufa’i said, “Over the last couple of decades, the right priorities in education were not addressed. Our institutions continue to grapple with enormous expenditure outside their core mandates.

“To restore the vibrancy of our institutions and to achieve the desired outcomes, we must get our priorities right and manage our institutions transparently.

“The onus is now squarely on the institutions to apply the fund in core areas of their mandates. Our institutions can no longer complain that their major problem is funding. Government is doing its uttermost within available resources and we shall continue to work hard to ensure that there is value for money.”

On the TETFund special high impact introduced in 2009, the minister said the intention was to upgrade the infrastructural and instructional facilities in the institutions of higher learning to encourage the training of high level manpower for the nation.

Rufa’i said the N25bn allocated to the programme, was for intervention in 12 institutions across the country, with each zone having a university, polytechnic or college of education.

According to the breakdown, each university will get N3bn, with college of education and polytechnic N1bn each.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, called for proper planning for quality education in the country.

He said the increase in allocation to the institutions this year was as a result of improved Education Tax collection by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.wp_posts