The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has described the “Nigerian Tax Bill 2024”, which is before the National Assembly, as one of Tinubu government’s dangerous policies and a last blow to break the backbone of Tertiary Education in Nigeria, which TETFUND has sustained over the years.
ASUU Executives from Calabar Zone, while addressing a Press conference in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, condemned the abrogation of what they described as “live-wire” of tertiary institutions in Nigeria by allowing a zero allocation to TETFUND by the year 2030.
The members of Calabar Zone of ASUU comprising 7 Universities, including Abia State University, ABSU; Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU; Ebonyi State University, EBSU; Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo, FUNAI; University of Calabar, UNICAL; University of Cross River State, UNICROSS; and University of Uyo, UNIUYO converged on Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital to address journalists on the state of tertiary education in the country.
The Zonal Coordinator, Happiness Uduk, said the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFUND is the major source of funding in public tertiary institutions and has been essential for the improvement and maintenance of standards in higher educational institutions.
The Calabar zone of ASUU is worried about what they described as a “dangerous trend and unpatriotic proposed new tax regime” where Education tax, called development levy, used to bankroll TETFUND’s programmes owing to dearth and decay of educational infrastructures and ASUU pressure for improved funding, will now be ceded to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
ASUU notes with serious concern Section 59(3) of the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, which specifically states that only 50% of the Development Levy would be made available to TETFund in 2025 and 2026 while NITDA, NISENI, and NELFUND would share the remaining percentage.
The ASUU members, therefore, called on governments, stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to reject the abrogation of TETFUND, describing the move as an ill wind with dire consequences.
The university teacher’s union stated that TETFUND Act has not been repealed and taking funds from the Education Tax (Development levy) to fund other agencies not provided in the Act is unlawful and in contravention of the extant laws of the land.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
