The Federal Government has officially opened the
application portal for the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF),
a welfare initiative aimed at providing interest-free loans to academic and
non-academic staff of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The announcement was made on Thursday via a post on X
by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media & Public Communication and
Spokesperson to the President. The portal is now live at tissf.education.gov.ng.
Loan Details and Purpose
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the TISSF as a strategic
programme designed to enhance staff welfare, support professional development,
and promote financial independence.
The scheme offers interest-free loans of up to N10
million, repayable over a maximum of five years, with a one-year moratorium
before repayment begins. Loans are capped at 33.3% of a beneficiary’s gross
annual salary and may be used for needs such as transportation, accommodation,
small-scale agro-business ventures, medical expenses, family support, and
academic advancement.
Minister’s Remarks
Dr. Alausa thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the scheme and other
education-focused interventions, calling the TISSF “another evidence of Renewed
Hope in action” and “a demonstration of the President’s commitment to education
and its component parts.”
He likened the programme to the Nigeria Education Loan
Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a timely support intervention for staff in
universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The Minister also noted that the TISSF is a key
component of the National Education Sector Renewal Implementation (NESRI)
framework, which aims to revitalise the sector. According to him, “guard rails”
and a robust monitoring template have been established to ensure transparency
and smooth implementation.
Background
The TISSF was first introduced in July during a high-level stakeholder
engagement in Abuja. Developed in consultation with staff unions, institutional
heads, and other stakeholders, the initiative is being implemented in
partnership with the Bank of Industry to guarantee accountability.
It targets both academic and non-academic staff in
tertiary institutions with the goal of improving welfare, promoting financial
stability, and supporting career development. The scheme includes a monitoring
and evaluation framework to track progress and ensure long-term success.
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