The Federal Government has released ₦11.8 billion to support 6,842 academic and non-academic staff across Nigerian tertiary institutions under the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
The beneficiaries were drawn from 141 institutions, including federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, as part of efforts to improve staff welfare and financial stability within the education sector.
Launched in August 2025, the TISSF is a joint initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund. The programme provides interest-free loans of up to ₦10 million to eligible staff, aimed at enhancing their well-being, supporting career growth, and easing financial pressures.
According to data from the Ministry of Education, about 34,000 applicants from 219 institutions have been verified so far. Staff from federal universities account for the majority of applicants at 59 per cent, followed by polytechnics with 23 per cent and colleges of education with 18 per cent.
To qualify for the loan scheme, applicants are required to have at least five years remaining before retirement.
Beyond the loan disbursement, the government is also rolling out other support programmes under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. These include the distribution of 240 e-tricycles across 12 institutions to ease transportation challenges for staff.
In addition, the EduRevamp Teacher Platform—launched earlier in 2026—has attracted over 37,000 registered users, with 18,000 teachers fully enrolled in its training modules. The platform offers digital learning tools such as video lessons, case studies, and certification opportunities to support continuous professional development.
The government has also introduced the School Safety Portal in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The platform currently hosts data on more than 156,000 geolocated schools, aimed at improving security coordination and emergency response within the education system.
Overall, the TISSF and related initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector by investing in the people who drive it.
