FG Releases N13bn Interest-Free Loans to 7,450 Tertiary Staff

The Federal Government has disbursed over N13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic staff across 153 public tertiary institutions under the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).

The intervention, designed to ease financial pressure on education workers, is part of the Federal Government’s broader reform drive in the education sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The announcement was contained in a statement on Friday signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade.

According to the ministry, the scheme—implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry—provides interest-free loans of up to N10 million for eligible staff in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

The programme is aimed at improving staff welfare, boosting productivity and supporting both personal and professional needs of beneficiaries in the tertiary education system.

The statement noted that President Bola Tinubu has continued to emphasise investment in human capital as a key driver of national development, particularly in the education sector.

It added that strengthening the welfare of teachers, researchers and administrative staff remains central to ongoing reforms targeted at improving learning outcomes and institutional performance.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the scheme as a critical pillar of the government’s education reform agenda, urging eligible staff to take advantage of the next application cycle.

He said no education system could perform beyond the capacity and wellbeing of its workforce, stressing that government interventions must go beyond infrastructure to include direct support for personnel.

According to him, “no education system can outperform the people who sustain it,” adding that welfare support remains essential to strengthening teaching, research and innovation across institutions.

The minister further explained that the successful implementation of the 2025/2026 cycle reflects growing demand for the programme and its impact on beneficiaries nationwide.

Data from the ministry showed that since disbursement began on 28 October 2025, more than 42,000 applications have been processed through the scheme’s digital platform.

Universities accounted for 52 per cent of total disbursements, while colleges of education and polytechnics received 25 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

The ministry also observed disparities in gender participation, with female beneficiaries accounting for 19 per cent of recipients in the current cycle.

It said targeted sensitisation and expanded outreach would be introduced in the next phase to improve inclusion and broaden access across all regions.

Officials added that efforts are ongoing to enhance the application process and improve engagement with institutions to ensure smoother and faster access for applicants.

The Federal Government confirmed that applications for the 2026/2027 cycle of the TISSF will open at the end of June 2026, urging eligible staff to follow official communication channels and liaise with their institutions for updates.

The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to building a stronger education system where staff welfare, institutional capacity and innovation work together to drive improved learning outcomes and national development.