The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Thursday warned that the tax reform bills initiated by the Federal Government would undermine the operations of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and weaken public university education in the country.
This was disclosed by the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof Timothy Namo, during an interview with journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Media Talk Africa recalls that the Federal Government submitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration in November 2024.
Namo called on the National Assembly to suspend the debate on the bills, noting that their passage would redirect more funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFund. He warned that this would deprive TETFund of the necessary resources to function effectively.
“The bills seek to enact a new law and abrogate the Education Tax,” Namo explained.
“These bills, if passed into law, will replace the Development Levy, which has been a major source of funding for TETFund projects. All funds generated from the education tax will instead be ceded to the newly established NELFund.
“The far-reaching implication is that by 2030, all funds generated from the Development Levy will be accessed solely by NELFund. This is dangerous and unpatriotic.
“This poses a serious threat to the survival of TETFund and, consequently, the Nigerian tertiary education system,” he said.
Namo emphasised that TETFund had been instrumental in supporting infrastructural development, postgraduate training, research, and capacity building in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria since 1993. He asserted that ASUU would resist any move detrimental to TETFund’s operations.
The coordinator also revealed that ASUU leadership had engaged the Federal Government on the potential dangers of the bills and urged the National Assembly to set aside the proposals in the interest of Nigerians.
