The Federal Government has instructed all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to report on their unspent Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocations within 30 days, warning that any unused funds will be redistributed and that officials who do not comply will face penalties.
This directive was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a meeting with leaders of tertiary institutions in Abuja on Thursday.
Alausa expressed his dissatisfaction with the ongoing underutilization of TETFund resources, which are intended to enhance infrastructure, learning facilities, and research capabilities in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“Institutions are required to submit reconciled reports of all unspent funds within 30 days, which will be verified together.
Unused funds may be redirected to priority projects, and carrying them over without valid justification will no longer be permitted,” the minister stated.
He also mentioned that procurement plans must align with approved initiatives, and that approvals should be expedited to prevent further delays in project implementation.
This new directive comes after repeated warnings from TETFund itself, which in July 2025 threatened to delist institutions that do not access or utilize their allocations.
According to the House of Representatives Committee on TETFund, approximately ₦500 billion in funds remained idle in the Central Bank of Nigeria as of August 2024.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) echoed similar concerns, revealing that around ₦600 billion in TETFund allocations remain unspent by institutions.
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“There is a significant amount of money in the Central Bank belonging to institutions that has not been utilized. Some have held these funds for 10 to 15 years without using them,” stated Prof.
Victor Osodeke, former ASUU President and current NEC member. “None of the Vice-Chancellors responsible for this have faced consequences. This needs to change.”
Alausa indicated that the government will implement capacity-building programs to enhance project management, compliance, and financial reporting among institutional staff.
To ensure transparency, a public dashboard will be created to display data on disbursement and utilization, and institutions will be required to publish regular updates on project progress.
“TETFund must operate with professionalism, enforce compliance, and ensure transparency.
Institutional leaders should promote urgency and accountability, while auditors and oversight bodies must identify irregularities,” the minister emphasized.
The 2025 TETFund allocation, amounting to ₦1.6 trillion, focuses on campus security, healthcare, and direct interventions in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
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