FG Orders Tertiary Institutions to Return Unused TETFund Allocations Within 30 Days

The Federal Government has issued a firm directive to all Nigerian tertiary institutions to account for and return any unutilised Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocations within 30 days.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement in Abuja during a meeting with heads of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. He explained that the move is part of a broader effort to ensure accountability and efficient use of public education funds.

According to the minister, many institutions have failed to fully utilize the intervention funds allocated to them for infrastructure, research, and staff development. These delays, he said, have slowed down the government’s drive to improve learning environments and research standards in public higher institutions.

“All institutions must submit a detailed and reconciled report of unutilised TETFund allocations within 30 days. Any idle or mismanaged funds will be retrieved and redirected to priority projects. Going forward, rollovers will only be permitted with valid justification,” Alausa warned.

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Government Targets Better Fund Utilisation and Transparency

The Education Ministry also revealed plans to introduce a public transparency dashboard that will display TETFund disbursement and utilisation data across all beneficiary institutions. This initiative is expected to enhance transparency, promote trust, and help the public track how much each school has received and spent.

In addition, the minister disclosed that capacity-building and mentorship programs will soon be launched for institutional project managers and bursars. The goal, he said, is to strengthen project execution, improve compliance, and ensure quarterly monitoring of all TETFund-supported projects nationwide.

“We must put an end to a situation where billions of naira are trapped in institutions while students are learning under poor facilities. Every naira allocated must serve its purpose,” he added.

Background: ₦600 Billion Still Idle in TETFund Accounts

Reports have indicated that over ₦600 billion in TETFund allocations remains unutilised in several tertiary institutions, largely due to bureaucratic delays, weak project management, and non-compliance with funding guidelines.

Earlier this year, TETFund warned that institutions that fail to access or properly utilise their intervention funds risk losing future allocations. In some cases, the agency has threatened to redirect such funds to institutions that have shown better compliance and capacity to deliver results.

Strengthening Accountability in the Education Sector

TETFund, established to support infrastructure development, research grants, and staff training in Nigerian tertiary institutions, remains one of the government’s strongest tools for improving higher education. However, underutilisation of these funds continues to undermine progress in the sector.

By enforcing stricter timelines and transparency measures, the government aims to accelerate completion of ongoing projects and ensure that allocations directly benefit students, lecturers, and researchers across the country.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the directive, noting that stronger financial discipline will help improve the quality of teaching and research in Nigerian institutions. However, they also called for more flexibility in addressing bureaucratic bottlenecks that often delay project execution.

Looking Ahead

With the new policy, institutions are expected to take proactive steps to reconcile their accounts and submit accurate reports to the TETFund office within the stipulated time frame. The Ministry of Education also plans to conduct quarterly performance reviews to ensure compliance and identify institutions that may need additional technical support.

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Dr. Alausa reiterated that the government’s goal is not punitive but corrective, emphasizing that effective management of education funds is central to building sustainable learning environments in Nigeria.

“We are investing in the future of Nigeria’s youth. Every kobo released for tertiary education must translate into real impact — better classrooms, improved laboratories, stronger research, and well-trained teachers,” he concluded.

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