Wabba cautions FG against scrapping TETFund

By Bimbola Oyesola

The Federal Government has been advised against scrapping the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), as it would have devastating effects on Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.

Former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, speaking at the National Leadership Retreat organized by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in Abuja recently, noted that TETFund has been a critical source of funding for university infrastructure and staff training.

He warned that scrapping it would leave universities in a dire state, as the national budget was inadequate to meet their needs.

The proposed tax reform bill under consideration at the National Assembly recommends that, starting in 2025, only 50 percent of the Education Tax will be allocated to TETFund. By 2030, the bill plans for the complete phasing out of TETFund, redirecting all funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The immediate past NLC boss argued that the major funding for universities comes from TETFund, especially for infrastructure and academic staff training.

He said many university facilities were in poor condition, and, without TETFund’s intervention, the situation would deteriorate further.

According to Wabba, state governors and trade unions strongly oppose the scrapping of TETFund, as they recognized its vital role in sustaining the  education sector.

He charged government to prioritise education funding and strengthen TETFund, rather than weaken it.

On labour issues, Wabba emphasised the importance of strong collective bargaining in resolving disputes, noting that strikes should be a last resort.

He explained that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) encourages prioritising collective bargaining to ensure fair treatment of workers.

Wabba reasoned that, “while strikes cannot be entirely ruled out, they often result from employers neglecting workers’ welfare,” describing workers as the backbone of the economy, whose interests must be taken seriously to ensure a stable work environment.

Reflecting on internal sabotage within organised labour unions, the former NLC boss said unions have mechanisms to address such challenges and maintain unity.

This is even as he urged workers to remain committed to their unions in the fight for their rights.

He also condemned salary reduction, advising affected individuals to report to their respective unions.

Wabba maintained that salary reductions without proper negotiation are illegal, expressing that labour unions would escalate such cases to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.