The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for immediate and collective action towards the full utilisation of unaccessed and unutilised education intervention funds across tertiary institutions, directing all beneficiary institutions to reconcile and submit detailed reports of unused allocations within 30 days.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, made the declaration during a strategic meeting in Abuja with Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, Bursars, and Procurement Officers from public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. He described the failure to utilise intervention funds meant for infrastructure and academic development as a setback to national progress, warning that the era of idle allocations is over.
“This meeting is not for blame games but to move forward collectively,” Dr. Alausa stated. “Resources that could have been used to transform our classrooms, laboratories, and libraries have remained idle for years due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. That must change now. Institutions must submit reconciled reports of all unutilised funds within 30 days. Any unused funds will be redirected to priority projects, and carrying them over without strong justification will no longer be allowed.”
The Minister expressed concern over the huge sums of money lying unutilised in the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, warning that such negligence denies students access to improved learning facilities and limits institutional growth. He noted that some allocations have remained untouched since the 1990s, stressing that this administration is determined to reverse the trend through transparency, accountability, and performance-driven management.
To enhance efficiency and strengthen compliance, Dr. Alausa announced that the Ministry will introduce new capacity-building and mentorship programmes for institutional heads, bursars, and project coordinators. These programmes will focus on improving project management, procurement planning, and timely reporting. The Ministry will also conduct quarterly progress reviews to track utilisation levels and compliance, with sanctions for defaulters.
He further disclosed plans to launch a public transparency dashboard that will display Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) disbursement and utilisation data. “Every TETFund naira represents public trust. We owe it to Nigerians to ensure that these resources are spent efficiently and visibly,” the Minister said.
The Honourable Minister reaffirmed that TETFund will henceforth enforce stricter compliance and adopt a results-based funding approach to ensure that disbursements translate into real impact. He urged bursars, procurement officers, and auditors to take full ownership of their roles in safeguarding the integrity of the process.
“TETFund must lead with professionalism and transparency. Institutional heads must drive urgency and accountability, while oversight bodies must diligently monitor and flag irregularities. Every stakeholder must recognise their stewardship in managing these funds for national benefit,” he said.
In 2025, TETFund allocated N1.6 trillion to public tertiary institutions nationwide, with a focus on campus security, healthcare infrastructure, and direct intervention projects. The Ministry reaffirmed that future allocations will prioritise institutions that demonstrate full and timely utilisation of funds.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olamuyiwa Enitan, represented by the Director of University Education, Hajiya Rakiya G. Iliyasu, reiterated that the issue of unutilised funds must be treated as a national emergency requiring collective responsibility. She emphasised the need for all tertiary institutions to prioritise timely execution of projects and ensure that no approved allocation remains dormant.
“The continued non-utilisation of funds undermines the quality of education and hinders national development,” she said. “This meeting is a call to action. Institutions must remove administrative bottlenecks, enhance interdepartmental coordination, and deliver tangible outcomes within defined timelines.”
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to optimising education resources for greater efficiency and impact in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry of Education remains resolute in ensuring that every allocation translates into meaningful infrastructure, improved learning environments, and sustainable institutional development across the nation.
Signed
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
Federal Ministry of Education
