The Nigerian government has disbursed more than N13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic staff across 153 public tertiary institutions nationwide. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by Folasade Boriowo, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, as part of the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF). The statement also announced that applications for the 2026/2027 phase will open later this month.
Background of TISSF
The TISSF is a federal government loan scheme for workers in Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, introduced in July 2025. Under the programme, eligible workers can access interest-free loans of up to N10 million, capped at 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary. The loans are intended for purposes such as transportation, healthcare, and small-scale business ventures.
ASUU's initial rejection
When the scheme launched last year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rejected it, arguing that university workers were already burdened by debt. ASUU maintained that the government should instead address poor welfare and renegotiate the 2009 agreements between the government and university workers. The negotiation with ASUU was completed in December, resulting in a 40 per cent salary increment and some allowances.
Disbursement details
The ministry reported that over 42,000 applications were processed through the programme’s digital platform since disbursements began on 28 October 2025. Universities accounted for 52 per cent of beneficiaries, while colleges of education and polytechnics received 25 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. Female staff represented 19 per cent of beneficiaries during this cycle. “Consequently, targeted sensitisation and outreach efforts will form a key component of the next phase of implementation,” the statement said.
Minister's remarks
Education Minister Tunji Alausa described the scheme as a key component of the education reform agenda and urged eligible staff to take advantage of the next application window. He described the intervention as one of the largest staff welfare programmes in Nigeria’s education sector, aimed at improving welfare, financial wellbeing, and productivity. He added that investments in infrastructure, technology, research, and institutional reforms must be complemented by measures that improve staff welfare and quality of life.
