The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of funds under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), aimed at improving staff welfare, enhancing productivity, and fostering innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
This was stated in Abuja on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo. She quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who said the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Alausa explained that the programme has now moved from planning to implementation, with over 9,000 staff benefiting in the first year. This represents 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 federal and state tertiary institutions nationwide.
He stated that the first phase of the disbursement covers both academic and non-academic staff in a 30:70 ratio, reflecting inclusiveness in supporting all categories of personnel across higher institutions.
Alausa also noted that the initiative is not only financial but an investment in strengthening the country’s knowledge economy. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency through quarterly reporting, institutional engagement, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective use and repayment of funds.
The initiative, launched in August 2025 after a stakeholder engagement in July, is part of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) aimed at improving morale and institutional excellence.
Under the scheme, eligible staff can access up to N10 million in zero-interest loans for needs such as housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and small business support.
