By FRED EZEH

The federal government, on Thursday, launched the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a scheme designed to offer loan opportunities to staff of government-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Surprisingly, some university-based unions, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), whose members are the target, were conspicuously absent at the launch of the scheme in Abuja on Thursday.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in his address at the launch of the TISSF in Abuja, said the intervention was not just a welfare package but a strategic empowerment platform designed to give academic and non-academic staff the financial stability they need to serve the students with renewed dedication and to live with dignity and pride.

He further explained that the TISSF is a joint initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI). “It is a zero per cent interest loan scheme aimed at enhancing welfare, supporting career development, and promoting financial independence for staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

“It’s a response to the economic pressures and professional development gaps faced by staff in the tertiary institutions. Through the TISSF, beneficiaries will have access to financing for their medical support, family and accommodation support, transportation, small-scale enterprise & agriculture, and academic advancement.”

On eligibility, the minister insisted that an applicant must be a full-time academic and non-academic staff member of any federal university, polytechnic, or college of education, as well as one state university, polytechnic, and college of education in each state.

In addition to that, the applicant must have at least five years until retirement and must be a registered member of relevant staff associations such as ASUU, NASU, COEASU, and SSANU. “This translates to 248 eligible institutions nationwide, covering all federal tertiary institutions and selected state-owned ones.

“Each eligible staff member can access up to N10 million, subject to a cap of 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary. The loans are interest-free, repayable over five years, with a 12 12-month moratorium before repayment begins. The applications will be processed through an easy-to-use online platform where staff can fill out a simple form, undergo identity verification, and have their requests vetted by the BOI.”

The Managing Director of BoI, Olasupo Olusi, in his remarks, promised an efficient, effective, and secure system that won’t experience glitches or the bureaucratic bottlenecks of the administrative system.

Meanwhile, ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna could not be reached to explain the position of ASUU on the loan and the reason for their absence at the inauguration event in Abuja.

But a few days ago, NAAT, in a statement by its National President, Ibeji Nwokoma, described TISSF as a distraction, thus announcing its rejection by the union.

In the statement, Nwokoma said, “We wish to make it categorically clear that our members do not need a loan that will perpetually enslave them, as it amounts to taking their salaries in advance, since there are NAAT cooperatives to take care of the short-term financial needs of members.

“Rather, NAAT demands the payment of all outstanding arrears legitimately earned by its members, which include three and a half months of withheld salaries, seven months of arrears of occupational hazard allowance, and the release of third-party deductions for the two months of withheld salaries that were paid.

“Others are the payment of 11 months’ arrears of Responsibility Allowance (RA), the payment of 12-month arrears of 25 per cent & 35 per cent salary increase, the payment of 4-month arrears of wage awards, the payment of arrears of the ?30,000 minimum wage to omitted NAAT members (implemented in 2019) as well as the release of supplementary funds to pay the outstanding claims of Eamed Allowances of NAAT members.

“We appeal to the Federal Government to use the TSSIF funds to settle the outstanding claims of NAAT members and also ask that the National Assembly, particularly committees on tertiary education and TETFund of the Senate and House of Representatives to intervene.”(TheSun)