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The Federal Government has announced the disbursement of more than N13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic staff across 153 public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The funding is part of the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a government initiative designed to provide financial assistance to workers in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Under the scheme, eligible staff members can access interest-free loans of up to N10 million, with the amount limited to 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary. The loans are intended to support personal and economic needs, including transportation, healthcare expenses, and small-scale business ventures.
The Federal Ministry of Education said more than 42,000 applications were processed through the programme’s digital platform since the disbursement began in October 2025. Universities received the largest share of beneficiaries at 52 per cent, while colleges of education and polytechnics accounted for 25 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.
The ministry also announced that applications for the next phase of the programme will open later this month. Education Minister Tunji Alausa described the initiative as a major welfare intervention aimed at improving the financial wellbeing, productivity, and quality of life of tertiary institution workers.
However, the scheme previously faced criticism from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which argued that workers needed improved welfare conditions and implementation of outstanding agreements rather than additional loans. The government maintained that the fund is part of broader reforms to complement investments in infrastructure, technology, research, and institutional development.
