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FG Unveils N10m Interest-free Loan Scheme For Staff In Tertiary Institutions
The Federal Government has unveiled a ?10 million Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), designed to improve the welfare, career development, and financial stability of academic and non-academic staff in tertiary institutions.
The scheme, unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa in Abuja on Thursday, is an interest-free loan.
The Tide source reports 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.
Alausa said the scheme was an intergral part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Reform Agenda for Education, which placed people at the centre of transforming the education sector and growing the economy.
“This programme is not just a welfare package.
“It is a strategic empowerment platform, designed to give our academic and non-academic staff the financial stability they need to serve our students with renewed dedication, and to live with dignity and pride.
“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,” he said
Alausa added that the scheme was put in place to address economic pressures and professional development gaps among tertiary staff.
He stated that studies had shown that over 70 per cent of tertiary institution staff in Nigeria had not participated in structured capacity-building programmes in the last five years.
He stated that TISSF aimed to change the situation, saying ‘’through the TISSF, beneficiaries will have access to finances for Medical Support like surgeries, emergency care, and medication.’’
According to him, there will be family and accommodation support such as rent, home ownership, renovation.
The minister also explained that beneficiaries would have access to transportation which included vehicle purchase (including EVs), bikes, tricycles, CNG conversions.
Other areas of intervention with the scheme include Small-Scale Enterprise and Agriculture in poultry, fishing, crop farming, and agro-processing.
Alausa added that academic advancement in the areas of professional certifications, degrees, and capacity-building programmes would be included in the scheme.
“The TISSF is open to confirmed full-time academic and non-academic staff of any federal university, polytechnic, or college of education and one state university, polytechnic, and college of education in each state.
” Applicants, who must have at least five years to retirement, membership of relevant staff associations such as ASUU, NASU, COEASU, and SSANIP are required.’’
The minister said that the development had translated to 248 eligible institutions nationwide, covering all federal tertiary institutions and selected state-owned ones.
He added that each eligible staff member could access up to ?10 million, subject to a cap of 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary.
He noted that the interest-free loans would be repayable over five years, with 12 months moratorium before repayment begins and invited the eligible to commence application for the programme.
Alausa explained that the applications would be processed through an easy-to-use online platform, www.tissf.boi.ng.,
He urged the staff to fill out the form, undergo identity verification, and have their requests vetted by the Bank of Industry.
“The opportunity is here to improve your welfare, advance your career, and strengthen our institutions.
‘’Let us seize this moment for our personal growth, for the stability of our institutions, and for the future of Nigeria’s education sector,” Alausa said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi, said the process had been fully automated, assuring transparency in the implementation.
The Chairman, House committee on University Education, Abubakar Fulata, while commending the government for the programme, decried the low standard of living of university staff.
Fulata recommended a minimum of N1million as salary for a graduate staff in the tertiary institutions.
The representative of the non-academic staff union, Abubakar Aliyu pledged support for the initiative.
Aliyu, however, called on the federal government to pay all outstanding arrears as the payments would enable the staff to repay the loan.
The Chairman of Committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, also pledged support for the initiative and called for its continuity.
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Elele Etche community Gets Interim Youth Leaders ….As traditional rulers Warned Against land grabbing
Elele Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has inaugurated an interim Youth Executive to run the affairs of the Elele Central Youth Association for the next six months.Among those inaugurated are, Comrade Godspower Anaele as the youth leader, Godspower Nwala, deputy youth leader and Barrister Nnamdi Abel as General Secretary/Legal Adviser.Also inaugurated are,Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel as Assistant General Secretary,Chibuike Nwamkpa as financial secretary, Michael Ogundu , public Relations officer,Miss Faith Nwaobilor , welfare officer and Charles I K.Agugoesi as provost.The Ochimba of Elele community Etche local government Area ,HRH Eze Innocent Anaemeje who inaugurated the youth executive warned them against involvement in anti social behavioursEze Anaemeje particularly warned them against involvement in land grabbing stressing that having eliminated land grabbing from the area, the community will frown at any attempt to bring it back.He said though the interim youth executive has six months to run the affairs of the Elele central youth Association, the community might return them if their performances are satisfactory.In an interview with newsmen, The Elele Etche monarch said his kingdom has only one youth body which is the Elele Central Youth Association, warning that private youth bodies will never be allowed to operate in the kingdom.He said his kingdom is laying a foundation that will promote hardwork and respect to constituted Authoritaties especially from the youth, adding that nobody irrespective of his position will be allowed to hold the community to ransomAccording to him, the youth of Elele Etche must respect their elders , the government and cultivate the virtues of hardwork and honesty, stressing that nobody will be allowed to bring shame to the kingdom.Anaemeje who is the chairman welfare committee of The Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers used the occasion to call on both the Rivers state Government and Etche Local Government Council to assist the community with the rehabilitation of its dilapidated health centreHe said the health centre which was constructed through communal efforts has become dilapidated leading to its abandonment.Eze Anaemeje also called for Government intervention on the epileptic power situation in the area and congratulated Governor Siminalaye Fubara for his reinstatement after six months of emergency rule in the state.Also speaking the Ezeoha of Etche ethnic nationality,HRH Eze Chima Nwagha called on youths in the community to respect their eldersHe warned that no indigene in the area should be allowed to use his position to destroy the kingdom and advised the newly inaugurated youth association to rule with the fear of God.
By: John Bibor & Birane progress
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has urged Nigerians to make the right choices and take responsibility for the nation’s progress instead of blaming leaders for its challenges.
Borno CAN Chairman, Bishop John Bogna Bakeni, made the call in Maiduguri on Saturday, stressing that national renewal requires both accountable leadership and responsible citizenship.
He said the transformation of Nigeria’s economic and political systems depends on deliberate moral choices and collective action by citizens.
“As I said in my message on the pulpit, Nigerians must make the right choices. We must hold our leaders accountable at all levels, but we must also take responsibility,” Bishop Bakeni stated.
He added that it is not enough to desire a better country without consciously choosing good over evil and making efforts to build it.
Bakeni noted that problems such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and corruption stem from the failure of families to instill discipline and values in their children.
“We cannot continue to blame the government alone. Parents must monitor their children and instill discipline and honesty in them. Evil thrives when families abandon their moral duties,” he warned.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists has commended the Department of State Services for the prompt release of two journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were recently arrested while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, which led to the immediate release of the journalists.
Our correspondent gathered that the journalists had captured footage showing DSS operatives preventing some pastors from gaining access to the church premises where the funeral service was taking place.
Security officials were screening attendees, and in the process, some clerics were denied entry.
Marcus and Jang had been detained after posting a video report on social media showing a confrontation between a cleric and security operatives at the funeral, an incident that raised widespread concern over press freedom and the right of journalists to perform their lawful duties.
The statement partly read, “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the DSS Director-General, who not only ordered their release but also personally reached out to the Union to tender his apologies. He has also reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”
The NUJ president described the gesture as a positive shift in the culture of Nigeria’s security institutions.
“The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency,” he stated.
While commending the development, Abdullahi urged the DSS and other security agencies to sustain the new approach and respect the rights of journalists at all times.
“Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties. We call on the DSS to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights”, he said.
He stressed that only by enforcing discipline within the ranks can such progress be consolidated.
Abdullahi further assured that the NUJ remains committed to constructive engagement with security institutions to strengthen mutual understanding, promote professionalism, and safeguard both press freedom and national security.
“We urge our members across the country to remain vigilant, courageous, and professional in the discharge of their duties,” the NUJ president added.