ASUU calls for redistribution of N320bn intervention fund

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for a redistribution of the N320.3 billion intervention fund approved by the Federal Government for tertiary institutions. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), authorized N320,345,040,835 as the 2023 intervention funds for public tertiary education. This amount was disclosed by TETFund Executive Secretary Sonny Echono in Abuja on Wednesday during the Fund’s annual strategic planning workshop with heads of beneficiary institutions. Echono said the meeting was intended to gather feedback and evaluate the performance of TETFund’s intervention lines, thereby strengthening the agency’s mandate.

According to Echono, the 2023 intervention cycle will allocate N1,154,732,133 to each university, N699,344,867 to each polytechnic, and N800,862,602 to each college of education. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke reiterated the call for redistribution in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday. He urged that 90 % of the approved funds be directed to universities and polytechnics rather than being retained for bureaucracy. Osodeke noted that while about N1.2 billion is allocated to each university and other institutions, the total allocation to all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education amounts to roughly N186 billion out of the N320 billion, leaving an unaccounted balance of N132 billion—41 % of the total. He questioned the use of this remainder, asking whether it serves bureaucratic purposes and demanded transparency on TETFund’s handling of the N132 billion.

Osodeke praised the Federal Government for approving the fund, describing it as a positive development and a long‑standing struggle dating back to 1994. However, he warned that unresolved strike issues persist. He reported that, despite the union ending its eight‑month strike in 2022 following a court directive, the government has not met ASUU’s demands or convened a meeting with lecturers. “Since we called off the strike, not a single meeting has been held and not a kobo has been paid,” Osodeke said.