Over N400bn was Disbursed to Tertiary Institutions in 2023 -Says Echono

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  The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Sonny Echono, has disclosed that the board has disbursed over N400 billion to Tertiary Institutions across the country in 2023. Echono stated this on Monday, 18 December 2023 in Makurdi while speaking to journalists during TETFund’s Management Retreat. He added that the amount represented the backlog of previous years that were not accessed and disbursement for the ongoing year. Read Also: Sanwo-Olu Commissions Mushin Food Agro-Hub, Eulogizes Fayinka He said the funds disbursed were in two phases and the first phase was in 2023, with the approved disbursement in the neighborhood of about N320 billion. He said: “I am also pleased to report that today they have accessed more than that. The reason is that we have a backlog of allocations from previous years that some institutions have not accessed but because we streamlined the process and created an avenue to assist the institutions in accessing their backlog, that number has grown.” “So, now we are in the neighborhood of about N400 billion that we have disbursed to our institutions this year, far more than the budget because most of the outstanding allocations are now being accessed. We are also removing little bottlenecks that are hampering the completion of these projects.” The Executive Secretary further added that TETFund can not be extended to private institutions for now due to the extant law of the country. He said: “The only way we collaborate with private institutions currently is in the area of research because we know that research is universal and we know that knowledge is collaboration.” “So, we are encouraging them to participate and we sponsor people or private individuals who have ideas. Going forward, we are under authority; if the law is amended and extended, we will have no exceptions.”

Japa Syndrome: FG May Repatriate Absconded TETFund-Sponsored University Lecturers

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  The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is alarming the number of university lecturers who were sponsored to study abroad under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) but have absconded. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, made this known while speaking with newsmen during the TETFund management retreat held in Makurdi, Benue State on Monday 18th December 2023. He said TETFund would compel the absconded lecturers to either refund the money spent on them or be repatriated. “I don’t want to give figures because it is alarming. Sadly, this opportunity being given is being abused,” Echono said. Read Also: Governor Dapo Appoints Oladunjoye as Senior Media Consultant   Speaking further, he said: “The figure is comprehensive. That is why it is a bit large because others have come back home but did not complete the minimum [years] of their bond before deciding to relocate or [join] what is called the Japa syndrome. “We have a database now, which we are refining each time because the institutions are the ones submitting the report. Although it is difficult to get accurate reports, for some, it is not that they absconded; they exceeded their course period. But some have extensions in their programmes. We have a very good idea and the number is not encouraging and I can tell you that even the security agencies are becoming interested and they are looking at that.”