The House of Representatives Committee on TETFUND has revealed that Jigawa State University and four other tertiary institutions in the state have failed to access over N790 million in TETFUND intervention funds from 2020 to 2023.
Chairman of the committee, Princess Mariam Odinaka Onuoha, made this disclosure during a fact-finding mission to five tertiary. institutions in Jigawa State.
Jigawa State’s tertiary institutions’ inability to access N790 million in TETFUND intervention funds from 2020 to 2023 has caught the attention of the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund, prompting concerns about the state’s education sector.
Committee Chairperson Princess Mariam Odinaka Onuoha emphasised the urgency of the situation, warning that failure to utilise the funds would result in a loss of value due to inflation.
She said the committee’s objective is to assess TETFUND’s resource utilisation and identify areas for improvement to enhance Jigawa State’s education quality.
In response, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, highlighting a 32% allocation of the state’s annual budget to the sector, surpassing UNESCO’s benchmark.
He outlined initiatives to enhance education, including restructuring the Ministry of Education, recruiting over 6,000 permanent teachers, and resolving leadership issues in state-owned tertiary institutions.
However, he expressed disappointment that the state’s institutions failed to access their TETFUND allocations and pledged to address the issue with priority.
According to the committee, failure to access the funds is a significant concern that requires immediate attention.
