FG approves disbursement of N32.3billion for tertiary institutions

By Maryam Abeeb

The Federal Government has approved a whopping sum of N320,345,040, 835. (Three hundred and twenty billion, three hundred and forty-five million, forty thousand, eight hundred and thirty five Naira only) as the 2023 intervention funds for public tertiary education institutions in the country.

Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja , during the Fund’s annual strategic planning workshop with all heads of beneficiary institutions.

Echono said the meeting was an avenue to receive feedback and evaluate the performance of its intervention lines to enhance a more robust delivering of the agency’s mandate.

According to the TETFund boss, the 2023 intervention cycle will see each university receiving N1,154,732,133.00 ; Polytechnic - N699,344,867.00, while each College of Education would get N800,862,602.

His words : “I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has approved the 2023 disbursement guidelines in the total sum of N320,345,040, 835. (Three hundred and twenty billion, three hundred and forty-five million, forty thousand, eight hundred and thirty five Naira only). On the basis of this, each university shall get, for the Year 2023 intervention cycle, the total sum of N1,154,732,133.00.

“This comprises N954,732,123.00 as annual direct disbursement and N200million as zonal intervention. Similarly, each Polytechnic shall get N699,344,867.00 comprising of N569,344,807.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130million as zonal intervention, while each College of education shall get N800,862,602 comprising of N670,862,602.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130million as zonal intervention.

“It is pertinent to note that this represents the highest disbursement to each beneficiary institution, since inception of the Fund.”

Echono further said the fortunes of the Nigerian tertiary education sector has improved significantly under the Buhari’s administration, saying that between 2015 to date (8 years), the total sum of N1.702 trillion has been disbursed as education tax collection to public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education compared to a total sum of N1.249trillion disbursed from the inception of the Fund in 1993 up to 2014 (21 years).

“This remarkable success is due to sustained efforts at expanding and increasing efficiency of collection of the Education Tax and added impetus is the gracious approval of Mr. President for an increase in education tax from 2.0% to 2.5% in the year 2021,” he added.

Echono also urged Buhari, as a parting gift to the education sector, to give his assent to Finance Bill 2023, which provides for a further increase in education tax from 2.5% to 3%.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo urged the beneficiary institutions to use the intervention judiciously, saying that the country is no longer looking for paper presentations but what one can do with his brain and hands.

Group asks Akpabio to contest for Senate Presidency

TheNigeria Civil Society Advocacy Group (NiCAG) on Tuesday in Abuja urged Sen. Godswill Akpabio to contest for the position of President of the 10th National Assembly.

The group, which comprises more than 20 civil society organisations and interest groups across the six geo-political zones, also urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other groups to support him.

While addressing a news conference to call out Akpabio, NiCAG’s Chairman, Mr Kenneth Obi, said they decided to urge Akpabio to contest because of what he has to bring to the table.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obi, who read out a statement by the group was flanked by their Vice-Chairman, Dr Lawrence Okwara, and Director of Media, Pastor Shedrach Oka.

“Akpabio’s endorsement is coming on the heels of the several declarations made by some Senators who are also qualified for the position but cannot fit into the equation at this time .

“We therefore insist that Akpabio remains the best material for this top position under the present circumstances,” he said.

Obi added that Akpabio’s leadership of the Senate under Tinubu’s presidency would be the best thing to happen to Nigeria in terms of inclusive democracy and good governance.

“There is no doubt that Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as a people are going to through so much difficult times.

“We need patriots of discerning characters, competence and capacity to bring that optimal depth of leadership efficiency, balance and service delivery in our leadership quest for maximum output and impact.”

Obi said, “the National Assembly is a microcosm of the Nigerian state.

“Its politics must be played to reflect and satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians for equity, justice and fairness to the zones which have not produced its leadership since the return of democracy.”

The NiCAG Chairman pointed out that in the 24 years of democracy in Nigeria, the office of the Senate President has been held by almost all zones except the South-South zone.

“From 1999 to 2007 it was held by South-East from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“In 2007 to 2015, the Senate President’s office was held by the NorthCentral PDP, and from 2015 to 2019 it was held by North Central APC.

“From 2019 to 2023 it was held by North-East APC. So, from 2023 to 2027 at least, who should occupy it? Certainly, it should be the South-South,” he stated.

Speaking also, the group’s Director of Media, Pastor Shedrach Oka, said it was clear the South-West, North-West and South-South were the only zones yet to produce the Senate President in the past 24 years.

“With the President-elect from the South-West and the Vice Presidentelect from the North-East, the zone left behind and well-positioned to get it is the South-South.

“Therefore, there is the need to call on other zones to support the SouthSouth in this endeavour.”

Oka said Akpabio deserved all support to become Senate President because he is a lawyer, grassroots politician, first-class strategist and a two-term governor.

“Our group has no doubt in our mind that Akpabio will be the most documented and successful President of the Senate that Nigeria would ever produce, given his uncommon Midas touch and track record of past performance.