FG LAUNCHES STAFF SUPPORT FUND FOR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE

The Federal Government has unveiled a ₦10 million Staff Support Fund aimed at improving welfare conditions across public tertiary institutions in the country.
The fund, launched under the Federal Ministry of Education’s tertiary sector reform plan, is expected to serve as emergency financial support for academic and non-academic staff in public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The initiative was announced following a closed-door meeting between education stakeholders and representatives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), where issues of delayed salaries, pension irregularities, and poor staff housing were discussed.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the fund would also be used to support staff health emergencies, training needs, and other urgent welfare matters. “It is part of a broader strategy to reduce industrial tension and restore dignity to the teaching profession,” he added.
While the initiative has been praised, some union leaders argue that the fund is insufficient to address deep-seated structural challenges in the tertiary education system. They are urging the government to follow through with the full implementation of renegotiated salary structures and revitalization funding agreements.