The Federal Government has officially begun disbursing funds under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) — an initiative aimed at boosting staff welfare, productivity, and innovation across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja by Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, who quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as saying the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Alausa, the programme has now moved from its planning stage to full-scale implementation, with over 9,000 staff members of tertiary institutions receiving payments in the first phase of disbursement.
This figure represents 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 federal and state tertiary institutions across the country.
The minister explained that the first phase covered both academic and non-academic personnel in a 30:70 ratio, reflecting the government’s inclusive approach to uplifting all categories of staff within the nation’s higher institutions.
“The President is delivering for our tertiary institutions — for welfare, for productivity, and for the future. Within just four months, payments have started going out. This is a President that delivers,” Alausa said.
He further described the initiative as more than just financial aid, calling it a deliberate investment in Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
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“This Fund is not merely about disbursement; it is about restoring dignity, rewarding dedication, and rebuilding the foundation of our knowledge economy,” he stated.
Alausa also assured that the ministry would maintain strict transparency in the programme’s management, including quarterly financial reporting, institutional engagement, and robust monitoring to ensure proper utilisation and eventual repayment — allowing more beneficiaries to access the scheme in the future.
Launched in August 2025 following high-level stakeholder engagements in July, the TISSF forms a critical component of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
Under the scheme, eligible staff can access up to ₦10 million in zero-interest loans to meet essential needs such as housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and small business ventures, all geared toward improving morale, performance, and institutional excellence in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.