The Federal Government has launched a new loan scheme to support the welfare and professional development of staff in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Known as the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), the initiative targets both academic and non-academic staff of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Each eligible staff member can access loans of up to ₦10 million, capped at 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary.
The fund is intended to provide financial assistance for transportation, medical expenses, and small-scale business ventures such as poultry farming.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo. The initiative was unveiled during a high-level stakeholder engagement session held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the scheme as a cornerstone of the administration’s efforts to reposition tertiary education in the country.
“TISSF is not just about welfare. It is about empowerment,” Alausa stated. “We are ensuring that our education workforce is supported to live well, grow professionally, and continue contributing meaningfully to institutional excellence.”
According to the ministry, the Bank of Industry will partner in implementing the programme, overseeing disbursements to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective delivery.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said the programme was developed through extensive consultations with staff unions, institutional leaders, and other stakeholders.
She added that a monitoring and evaluation framework has been built into the scheme to track implementation and ensure its sustainability.
The launch was attended by key sector stakeholders, including representatives from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Bank of Industry, vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts. They reportedly expressed strong support for the initiative.
