In a Swift move to strengthen staff welfare, institutional productivity, and innovation, the federal government has commenced the disbursement of the tertiary institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) across Tertiary Institutions in the country.

This landmark initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was
Launched in August 2025, following a high-level stakeholders’ session in July.

The TISSF has now moved from planning to action, with over 9,000 beneficiaries receiving disbursements in the first year.

A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade explains that the number represents 28% of the 33,000 verified applicants drawn from 219 Federal and State tertiary institutions across the federation.

“In the first year of implementation, the beneficiary composition reflects a 30:70 ratio of academic to non-academic staff, underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive support for all categories of tertiary institution personnel.

Speaking on the milestone, the Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who commended the leadership and vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, added that the TISSF Initiative represents a critical component of the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) framework.

“The President is delivering for our tertiary institutions — for welfare, for productivity, and for the future. Within just four months, payments have started going out. This is a President that delivers, and the Ministry of Education is profoundly grateful for his continuous support and commitment to staff welfare”.

According to the statement, it is strategically designed to improve the welfare, morale, and performance of tertiary institution staff while reinforcing tertiary institutions as centres of excellence, innovation, and knowledge creation, through concessionary zero interest loans and welfare support packages.

It adds that the TISSF empowers staff by offering each staff up to N10m loan to address key livelihood and productivity challenges, including access to housing, education, healthcare, mobility, and small business development

“This Fund is not merely about disbursement; it is about restoring dignity, rewarding dedication, and rebuilding the foundation of our knowledge economy,” said Dr. Alausa.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to transparent fund management, quarterly financial reporting, and continuous engagement with participating institutions to ensure that every naira disbursed translates into improved welfare, motivation, and institutional performance as well as repayments to ensure more members of tertiary institutions can benefit from the initiative.

PR/Nkiruka Okeke