The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commenced a 90-day nationwide investigation into Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, amid rising concerns over abandoned, poorly executed, and delayed infrastructure projects in tertiary institutions.
The student body announced the constitution of an Independent TETFund Intervention Project Assessment, Verification and Monitoring Committee, tasked with evaluating the implementation, quality, and impact of federally funded education projects nationwide.
Speaking on the development, NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, said the decision followed persistent complaints from students across institutions regarding alleged abandonment and substandard execution of key infrastructure projects meant to improve learning conditions.
“We can no longer ignore the growing concerns from students across campuses about abandoned and poorly executed TETFund projects. This exercise is to ensure accountability and restore confidence in the system,” Babatunde said.
He explained that while the Federal Government continues to make significant investments in tertiary education through TETFund, questions remain about whether such interventions are being properly implemented and whether students are truly benefiting from them.
According to him, the newly inaugurated committee will embark on a nationwide tour of tertiary institutions to independently verify the status of ongoing and completed projects funded by the intervention agency.
“The committee shall evaluate the level of implementation, utilisation, quality of delivery and overall impact of these projects on students and host institutions,” the NANS president stated.
The association added that the exercise is also aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public education funds, particularly at a time when concerns over infrastructure decay in tertiary institutions continue to grow.
The committee is expected to submit its findings within 90 days, after which a comprehensive report will be forwarded to the Presidency, Federal Ministry of Education, and other relevant stakeholders for necessary action.
NANS further noted that its engagement with institutions and government agencies would be guided by the outcome of the investigation, especially in addressing cases of project abandonment and contractor negligence.
The committee is chaired by Salahudeen A. Lukman, with members including Comrade Okereke Godson Bishop, Dominic Philip AVM, Odiahi Thomas Ikhine, Wande T. Ajayi, and Ibrahim A. Ibrahim, while Gambo Abubakar will serve as secretary.
Babatunde urged tertiary institutions, TETFund officials, contractors, and student leaders across the country to fully cooperate with the committee to ensure a transparent and credible assessment process.
Established by the Federal Government, TETFund is responsible for providing supplementary funding to public tertiary institutions through education tax revenue. Its interventions cover infrastructure development such as lecture halls, laboratories, and hostels, as well as research grants, academic staff training, and institutional capacity development.
However, over the years, the agency has faced criticism over allegations of abandoned projects, delayed execution, poor-quality delivery, and weak monitoring mechanisms—concerns that have continued to fuel calls for stronger oversight in the education sector.
The current nationwide probe is expected to further intensify scrutiny on how intervention funds are managed across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and whether they are delivering measurable improvements to the academic environment.
