FG Disburses Over ₦13bn Interest-Free Loans To 7,450 Staff Across 153 Tertiary Institutions

FG Disburses Over ₦13bn Interest-Free Loans to 7,450 Staff Across 153 Tertiary Institutions The Federal Government has disbursed more than ₦13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non academic staff across 153 public tertiary institutions nationwide under its staff welfare support initiative. The development was announced as part of ongoing implementation of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund TISSF , a government-backed programme aimed at improving the welfare, financial stability, and professional development of workers in Nigeria’s higher education sector. According to official information, the fund provides zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million per beneficiary, depending on eligibility and salary structure. The scheme is jointly driven by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund. The intervention is designed to ease economic pressure on staff, support capacity building, and improve productivity across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The latest disbursement covers 153 public tertiary institutions across the country, reflecting expanded reach beyond earlier phases of the programme. Beneficiaries include both academic and non-academic staff, with allocations structured to ensure fair distribution based on verified applications and institutional quotas. Officials noted that the programme continues to record strong demand, with tens of thousands of applications submitted since its launch.

The loan scheme forms part of broader reforms in the education sector aimed at strengthening human capital development, improving staff welfare, and enhancing service delivery in tertiary institutions. Government sources said the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to stabilise the academic system, reduce financial stress among workers, and encourage retention of skilled personnel in public institutions. The loans are interest-free, with repayment expected to be deducted directly from beneficiaries’ salaries over an agreed period. Eligibility requirements include confirmed employment status and a minimum number of years remaining before retirement. Authorities stressed that the scheme is not a grant but a revolving support facility intended to be sustainable for long-term staff benefit. The Federal Government is expected to continue expanding the programme as more institutions are onboarded and additional applications are processed.

Officials also indicated that monitoring and verification mechanisms have been strengthened to ensure transparency and prevent abuse of the scheme. The Federal Government has disbursed over ₦13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 tertiary institution staff across 153 institutions as part of the TISSF scheme, aimed at improving welfare and financial stability in Nigeria’s education sector.