The federal government has disbursed N13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic staff across 153 public tertiary institutions under the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
The Federal Ministry of Education said the intervention is part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare, financial stability and productivity of workers in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Publications, Boriowo Folasade, the scheme is implemented through the Bank of Industry and offers interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible staff of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The ministry said the facility is designed to support beneficiaries in meeting personal and professional financial needs while enhancing their overall wellbeing.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the programme as a key component of the ministry’s ongoing education reforms.
According to him, improving staff welfare is essential to building a stronger education system.
“No education system can outperform the people who sustain it,” the minister said, adding that investments in infrastructure, technology, research, innovation and institutional reforms must be complemented by initiatives that improve the quality of life of education workers.
Alausa noted that the successful completion of the 2025/2026 disbursement phase demonstrates both the strong demand for and positive impact of the intervention.
Since disbursements began on October 28, 2025, the programme has processed more than 42,000 applications through its digital platform, benefiting staff across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The ministry disclosed that universities accounted for 52 per cent of beneficiaries, while colleges of education and polytechnics received 25 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.
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Female beneficiaries made up 19 percent of recipients during the 2025/2026 cycle.
The ministry said targeted awareness campaigns and outreach programmes would be intensified in the next phase to encourage greater female participation and improve uptake in regions with lower application rates.
It added that efforts are ongoing to simplify the application process and strengthen engagement with participating institutions to ensure a faster and more user-friendly experience for applicants.
The ministry further announced that applications for the 2026/2027 phase of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund will open at the end of June 2026, urging eligible staff to liaise with their institutions’ bursary departments and monitor official ministry communication channels for updates.
