By Johnson Momodu
The legendary Nelson Mandela once described education as a formidable weapon useful to positively reset the stability and progression of society and humanity. But in Nigeria, education has virulent enemies who curiously revel in chaos, misinformation, and distractive mischief.
What is the best way to derail educational progression in Africa’s largest country? Simply pull down – or attempt to collapse – the structures, the powerful pillars that support and grow the sector.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is one such structure – and it is under attack. TETFund is an intervention agency set up to provide supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary educational institutions, specifically universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education, with the main objective of using funding alongside project management for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria.
TETFund was originally established as Education Trust Tax by Act No 7 of 1993 as amended by Act No 40 of 1998. The Act was later repealed and replaced with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act No. 16 of 2011.
What is the substance of the attack initiated by some shadowy operator (s) that petitioned the National Security Adviser, NSA, claiming the Fund gave out money to a political party in a northern state? Specifically, a section of the social media has been inundated with images of a letter purportedly written by the Woman Leader of the Adamawa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, Mrs. Patricia Yakubu, to the NSA, part of which contains insinuations that the party received funding of N325 million between October 2023 and October 2024 from TETFund.
The lady also alleged that “Contracts from TETFund at FCE Yola and GMMC Yola for the benefit of the party was kept secret. They sold contracts and concealed the proceeds.”
Basic ignorance by any stretch cannot become a licence for defaming critical institutions and responsible personalities who manage them.
Good a thing, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, Director, Public Affairs of TETFund, has responded to bring quick clarity to defog the misinformation wittingly or unwittingly deployed in the mix of mischief and malice to damage a vital institution and its founding principles.
His words: “We wish to state unequivocally that the insinuation is not only preposterous and totally false, but also a great disservice to the nation that an individual of such political standing, would engage in such frivolity without an iota of evidence.
“To further buttress the futility of the allegations, we wish to state in clear terms that General Murtala Mohammed College (GMMC), Yola, where TETFund contracts were alleged to have been sold is not a beneficiary institution of TETFund; while FCE Yola which is a beneficiary institution is solely responsible for engagement of its contractors in line with the policy of the Fund.
“The Fund has observed that allegations of this nature, sponsored by desperate individuals, have become the trend in recent times but will not be deterred in carrying out its statutory mandate which remains funding for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria.
“The Fund has undertaken this mandate steadily over the years both as ETF and TETFund and with renewed vigour under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We advise that detractors get their facts right so as to avoid misleading the public.”
Clearly, TETFUND does not directly award contracts but releases money to beneficiary institutions. Its statutory configuration does not permit it to patronise political parties or politicians but only beneficiary public educational institutions in all corners of the country. Its statutory mandate would be defeated if it strays to patronizing political entities or politicians.
Many politicians – largely unproductive folks jostling for political appointments – must seek their fortunes somewhere else rather than maligning TETFund. It is also worth noting that TETFund’s transactions are pretty open because it has only one account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Beyond the informed pushback by TETFund’s public affairs directorate, another unsavoury consequence of this needless misinformation is that some sections of the media have bought into the false narrative peddled by a disgruntled lady politician. In rushing into publishing unverified allegations, they broke a cardinal, common rule of responsible journalism by not getting the other side of the story.
One newspaper even went into overdrive and did a cover story on November 30, calling out TETFund for alleged corruption. In summary, the news outlet put both the agency and its Executive Secretary on the spot, alleging it expended humongous amounts without appropriation. Surprising ignorance and wilful mischief were betrayed in that report.
But apparently, they misread TETFund’s Executive Secretary’s unassuming mien as a sign of weakness. Arc. Sonny Echono has responded appropriately without beating about the bush – with the instrumentality of law. He is a core, competent professional who understands the scope and sweep of his responsibility in a strategic sector at a challenging period.
As of press time, Echono had briefed his legal counsel, which has immediately got across to the newspaper, demanding recantation and other remedial imperatives – or they will initiate defamation proceedings against the newspaper. The counsel made it very clear that the publication has impugned Echono’s integrity and injured his hard-earned reputation.
Many may not know that Arc. Sonny Echono covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stakeholders, relevant institutions, policy makers, and, more importantly, sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in his leadership of the TETFund despite the overarching challenges.
As it were, a powerful vision draws in ideas, people, and other resources. It creates the momentum and will to catalyse change. It inspires individuals, complementary organizations, and institutions to commit, persist, and give their best.
Keying into this enduring philosophy, unassuming Echono has also deployed impeccable professionalism, discipline, and persistence in the endeavour to change the traditional narrative of growing the education sector in Nigeria.
It would be pertinent, at this juncture, to illuminate some of the statutory principles that drive TETFund’s critical operations. The main source of income available to the Fund is the three per cent Education Tax paid from the assessable profit of companies registered in Nigeria. The Federal Inland Revenue Services assesses and collects the tax on behalf of the Fund.
The distribution of funds to beneficiary institutions as stipulated in the TETFund Act is in the ratio of 2:1:1 as between universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.
The Fund is neither involved in the award of contracts in beneficiary institutions nor even in the nomination of scholars in the capacity building intervention, but only responsible for the disbursement of funds and monitoring of projects in beneficiary institutions. Awards of contracts are carried out by beneficiary institutions. Though these points have been made previously, they are worth repeating.
In line with the TETFund Act, intervention allocations are not required to pass through the National Assembly for approvals/appropriation as it is not one of the revenues that constitute the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation under Section 80(1) of the Constitution. This contradicts a core kernel of the newspaper report.
An interpretation of the provisions of the TETFund Act regarding submissions of TETFund allocations to the National Assembly for appropriation was given by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in 2013, where it was stated that the provisions of the TETFund Act do not require appropriation of its intervention funds by the National Assembly.
Therefore, those targeting this strategic national institution should perish their toxic mischief and consider going after other prey.
•Momodu, a public affairs analyst, is based in Benin.
