The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has queried 38 tertiary institutions across Nigeria over anomalies detected in their financial retirements for allocations received in the 2024 financial year.
According to the Fund’s annual report, the discrepancies arose from the “non-inclusion of relevant documents such as payment vouchers, complete bank statements, and in some cases, failure to show evidence of statutory deductions and remittances to the relevant authorities.”
Institutions flagged include the National Open University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Federal University of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Jos, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Federal University of Technology Akure, and Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.
Others are Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Dennis Osadebay University, Ebonyi State University, University of Calabar, Cross River State University, Niger Delta University, Federal University Gusau, Kano State Polytechnic, Kaduna Polytechnic, Institute of Management Technology Enugu, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas Rivers State, Imo State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Bali, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic, Ekiti State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, and FCT College of Education, Adamu.
Also listed are Augie College of Education, Kaduna State College of Education, Niger State College of Education, Federal College of Education Zuba, Federal College of Education Iwo, Abia State College of Education Arochukwu, and Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu.
The queries come against the backdrop of recent scrutiny of the agency’s operations. In April 2024, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly grilled three TETFund directors over alleged involvement in a ₦3.8 billion contract fraud. Those invited included the Director of Finance and Accounts, Gloria Olotu; Director of Human Resources and General Administration, Kolapo Okunola; and Director of ICT, Joseph Odo.
Around the same time, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, denied widespread corruption allegations.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling for investigations into alleged irregularities in contract awards, including contracts issued in foreign currency, a practice HEDA described as illegal under Nigerian law.
The report’s revelations underscore ongoing concerns about accountability in the management of education intervention funds in Nigeria.
