The recent social media attacks on the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) represent a troubling confluence of political rivalries and institutional integrity. These unfounded criticisms not only mischaracterise the organisation’s role but also threaten to undermine its vital mission in supporting Nigeria’s higher education system.
The controversy emerged from an internal dispute within the Adamawa chapter of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), where the party’s woman leader, Mrs. Patricia Yakubu, filed a petition with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Her allegations of N325 million in party funding from TETFund between October 2023 and October 2024 sparked widespread social media speculation. The petition specifically claimed that contracts from TETFund at Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola and General Murtala Mohammed College (GMMC) Yola were manipulated for party benefits, though these allegations were intended for the NSA’s private consideration.
Adding fuel to the controversy, the Abuja-based newspaper Aljazirah published a story on November 30, 2024, titled “Inside story: TETFund swims in corruption.” The article made sweeping accusations about the fund’s alleged mismanagement of N4 trillion without proper appropriation and claimed that 100 lawyers and 1,000 civil society organisations were preparing to protest. The paper called for the dismissal of Executive Secretary Arch Sunday Echono, citing what it termed a “misinterpretation of the TETFund Act to avoid budgeting scrutiny.”
The newspaper’s argument centred on Section 80 of the Constitution, which mandates that all federal revenues be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. The report suggested that TETFund was improperly avoiding National Assembly oversight by misinterpreting its mandate to “administer” funds as outlined in Section 7(3) of the TETFund Act.
However, these allegations fundamentally misunderstand TETFund’s role and operational structure. As an intervention agency, TETFund’s primary responsibility is to provide supplementary support to public tertiary educational institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The organisation focuses on rehabilitation, restoration, and consolidation of tertiary education through strategic funding and project management.
TETFund’s spokesperson, Abdulmumin Oninyangi, has effectively refuted these allegations, pointing out that GMMC Yola isn’t even a TETFund beneficiary institution. Moreover, while FCE Yola does receive support, it independently manages its contractor engagements in accordance with the Fund’s policies. The organisation maintains strict boundaries between its funding role and the operational autonomy of beneficiary institutions.
The Fund’s leadership has taken decisive action to protect its reputation. Arch Echono has initiated legal proceedings, demanding a retraction of the damaging claims. This response demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in its operations.
These recent controversies highlight several important issues. First, the tendency to drag public institutions into political disputes can severely hamper their effectiveness and ability to fulfill their mandates. Second, while oversight and accountability are crucial for public institutions, accusations must be based on solid evidence rather than political opportunism or misunderstandings of legal frameworks.
TETFund’s track record speaks for itself, with visible improvements across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The Fund’s impact is evident in the numerous infrastructure projects, research initiatives, and capacity-building programmes it has supported over the years. These achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by unfounded allegations and political manoeuvring.
Moving forward, several steps are necessary to address these challenges. The legal system should be allowed to clarify any constitutional questions regarding TETFund’s operations. Political actors must exercise restraint in involving public institutions in their disputes. Most importantly, public discourse about institutional oversight should focus on constructive criticism backed by evidence rather than sensationalised accusations.
TETFund’s commitment to its mandate under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda deserves support, not baseless criticism. The organisation’s focus on funding the rehabilitation, restoration, and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria remains crucial for the country’s development.
As this situation unfolds, it’s essential to maintain a balanced perspective. While transparency and accountability in public institutions are non-negotiable, equally important is protecting these institutions from becoming collateral damage in political disputes. The future of Nigeria’s tertiary education system depends on allowing organizations like TETFund to fulfill their mandates without undue political interference or unfounded accusations.