The Federal Government has issued a 30-day ultimatum to all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to submit comprehensive reports on unutilised intervention funds received from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). This directive was given by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a strategic meeting held with heads of tertiary institutions in Abuja on Thursday.
Dr Alausa expressed deep concern over the persistent issue of idle funds that have not been deployed for developmental projects within institutions. According to him, the Ministry of Education has faced ongoing challenges due to financial allocations remaining unused, which has hindered critical infrastructure development across Nigeria’s higher education sector.
“Institutional heads are required to submit reconciled reports of all unutilised funds within 30 days. These reports will be jointly verified by the relevant authorities,” Alausa stated. “Unused funds may be redirected to priority projects, and rollovers without compelling justification will no longer be tolerated.”
He stressed the need for institutional procurement plans to be closely aligned with approved interventions, while also urging prompt approval processes to prevent unnecessary delays.
In a move to promote better fund management, the minister announced the introduction of capacity-building programmes focused on project execution, compliance, and financial reporting. These will be supported by mentorship schemes to guide project managers. Additionally, quarterly performance reviews will be instituted to monitor progress, with sanctions awaiting institutions that fail to utilise their funds effectively.
To bolster transparency, the Ministry will launch a public dashboard showcasing disbursement and utilisation data. Institutions will also be mandated to publish regular updates on project implementation.
“TETFund must lead with professionalism and enforce strict compliance. Institutional heads must take full ownership, ensuring urgency and accountability,” Alausa said. “Bursars, procurement officers, and project coordinators must plan responsibly, while auditors and oversight agencies are expected to actively monitor and flag any irregularities.”
This announcement follows growing concern by TETFund over the large volumes of unutilised allocations. In July 2025, the agency warned that institutions failing to access and utilise their allocations risk being delisted, with funds reallocated to more responsive institutions.
TETFund operates on a demand-driven model, allocating resources based on proposals submitted by institutions. In 2025 alone, the agency allocated ₦1.6 trillion to support projects in Nigerian tertiary institutions, prioritising campus security, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
Dr Alausa concluded by urging all stakeholders to act with a sense of stewardship, reminding them that every naira from TETFund represents public trust and must be utilised in service of national development.
