The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Kano Zone is sounding the alarm about the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, calling it a sneaky attempt by the Federal Government to eliminate the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). They believe this could undo years of advancements in Nigeria's public higher education system. 

Speaking to reporters in Kano, ASUU's Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Abdulkadir Muhammad, voiced serious worries about Section 59(3) of the bill, which proposes gradually cutting TETFund’s funding until it gets nothing by 2030. 

“Gentlemen of the press, this bill is nothing short of an attempt to systematically kill TETFund, the brainchild of ASUU, which has salvaged Nigeria’s public university system from imminent collapse over the years,”  Muhammad stated. 

He reminded everyone that TETFund originated from the Education Trust Fund (ETF), set up in 1993 based on ASUU’s suggestions during the Babangida administration to tackle the long-standing issue of underfunding in higher education. 

“Since its establishment, TETFund has been the most successful agency in providing interventions to Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions,” he stated. “It has financed physical infrastructure, library development, research, staff training, conference attendance, and manuscript development. Its achievements have far surpassed those of annual budgetary allocations to education.”

The ASUU-Kano zone expressed disappointment that the new bill would allocate only 50% of the Development Levy to TETFund in 2025 and 2026, with the rest going to other agencies like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). By 2030, TETFund would be left with nothing. 

“This move is anti-poor, unpatriotic, and destructive to the survival of public tertiary education in Nigeria,”  Muhammad stressed.

The implications of eliminating TETFund  

The union cautioned that the removal of TETFund would jeopardize years of advancements aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian public universities.  

“The impact of TETFund is visible on every public tertiary institution in Nigeria. Abrogating it will take public tertiary education many years backward and subvert the modest gains made so far,” Muhammad stated.  

ASUU maintained that TETFund has addressed essential deficiencies caused by the consistently inadequate budgetary allocations for education in Nigeria.  

Call to action  

The ASUU-Kano Zone urged the National Assembly and the National Economic Council to utilize their constitutional authority to prevent the passage of the bill.  

“We urge well-meaning Nigerians and other stakeholders to prevail on the Federal Government to withdraw this bill immediately,” Muhammad implored.  

The union reiterated its dedication to safeguarding the benefits of TETFund and ensuring the viability of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.  

“We will not fold our arms and watch the systematic killing of TETFund, a lifeline for public universities,” Muhammad asserted.  

As the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 progresses through the National Assembly, the ASUU-Kano Zone’s position contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the future of educational funding in the nation.