Federal Government has disbursed approximately N13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic staff members across 153 public tertiary institutions nationwide under the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
Gatekeepers News reports that the disbursement is part of the 2025/2026 cycle of the intervention programme, according to a statement issued on Friday by Boriowo Folashade, Director of Press and Publications at the Federal Ministry of Education.
The ministry said the initiative reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving the welfare, financial wellbeing and productivity of education workers through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Established by the Federal Ministry of Education and administered by the Bank of Industry, the TISSF provides interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible staff of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
According to the ministry, the scheme is designed to help beneficiaries meet personal and professional needs while improving their overall quality of life.
The statement noted that Tinubu had reiterated his administration’s commitment to investing in the workforce driving teaching, learning, research and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
It added that the programme is helping to ease financial pressures on education workers, improve livelihoods and strengthen the human capital responsible for shaping the country’s future.
Speaking on the initiative, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the fund as a key component of the ministry’s broader education reform agenda and encouraged eligible staff to participate in the next application cycle.
According to the minister, “no education system can outperform the people who sustain it”.
He said investments in infrastructure, technology, skills development, research and institutional reforms must be matched with practical measures that enhance staff welfare and quality of life.
Alausa added that the successful implementation of the 2025/2026 phase underscores both the strong demand for the scheme and its positive impact on beneficiaries.
He noted that the programme complements ongoing efforts to improve teaching and learning outcomes, strengthen research and innovation, enhance institutional governance and build a more resilient and globally competitive education system.
“Since disbursements commenced on 28 October 2025, the programme has processed over 42,000 applications through its digital platform, providing support to beneficiaries across all six geopolitical zones of the country,” the statement said.
“Universities accounted for 52 per cent of disbursements, while colleges of education and polytechnics represented 25 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.”
The ministry said the initiative has promoted equitable access across the country while highlighting opportunities to increase participation among female staff members and improve uptake in some regions.
According to the statement, women accounted for 19 per cent of beneficiaries during the 2025/2026 cycle.
The ministry added that targeted sensitisation and outreach campaigns will form a major part of the programme’s next phase, aimed at boosting awareness and participation.
It also said efforts are underway to streamline the application process and deepen engagement with participating institutions to provide a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience for applicants.
Applications for the 2026/2027 phase of the TISSF are expected to open at the end of June 2026, with eligible staff advised to liaise with their institutions’ bursary departments and monitor official communication channels for further information.
