NASS Summons VCs, Rectors, Provosts To Abuja Over Use Of TETFUND Grants
… As ICPC Directs Uni Uyo VC, Bursar To Refund Unutilised Grants
The heads of public tertiary institutions have been summoned to appear before a joint Senate and House Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) over the implementation details of the annual intervention and direct allocation they received, THE WHISTLER can exclusively report.
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The institution heads summoned include vice-chancellors of universities, rectors of Polytechnics, and provosts of colleges of education.
TETFUND was founded in 2003 to overhaul the imposing, managing, and disbursing of the education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
TETFUND gets its funding from the two per cent education tax imposed on the assessable profit of companies registered in Nigeria.
In 2023, TETFUND said it disbursed over N400bn to tertiary institutions in the country for project implementation. But TETFUND may have observed foul play in the implementation of projects by the government-owned institutions.
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THE WHISTLER found that all the benefiting tertiary institutions have been directed by the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives to ‘stay action’ on the implementation of the 2024 grant.
THE WHISTLER obtained two documents from the Senate and House of Representatives summoning the heads of the institutions to Abuja for questioning.
The first document from the Senate Committee on TETFUND with reference number: NASS/S/HR/Vol.1/004 and titled ‘Request for Submission of TETFUND 2024 Annual Intervention/Direct Disbursement Implementation Details’ demanded the heads of the institutions to submit the implementation details and the amount disbursed to their institutions by TETFUND.
The document provided a format for submission of projects that includes information on physical infrastructure/ programme; academic staff training and development; ICT support; library development; conferences; institution-based research; institution-based skills and development attendance.
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Other details requested were the amount spent on TETFUND project maintenance; equipment fabrication; career development; publication of journals; management development and any other TETFUND 2024 intervention line items.
The document which was signed by the Clerk to the Committee, Halima Sadiya Musa said, “All submissions, in thirty hard copies and two soft copies each are expected to reach the committee secretariat in room 305, third floor, White House, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex on or before Friday, February 23, 2024, while your appearance before the Joint Committee is slated for Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at committee room 107, House of Representatives, New Building, National Assembly by 10:am.”
Another document from the House of Representatives with reference number: NASS/HR/10/EDT/VOL 4/237 with the title, ‘Request for Submission of 2024 TETFUND Normal Intervention Implementation Details’, demanded the institution heads to release all details of implementation of grants.
The document signed by the Clerk Committee, Gbolagun Isaiah Akinwumi, notified the tertiary institution heads that the request is part of its statutory oversight mandate on all public institutions in relation to the implementation of all TETFUND allocations.
“You are requested to furnish the committee with all the full implementation details, including and not limited to the drawings, designs and specifications for all projects, procurement and services as contained in your 2024 TETFUND Normal Intervention Allocation letter issued to your institution,” according to the House Committee document.
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The committee explained that the summon would allow the institutions to give a detailed account of the implementation of the allocation received from TETFUND and how the implementation conforms with extant laws establishing TETFUND.
The document said, “The House Committee on TTETFUND and Other Services shall conduct further considerations of your submission to ensure compliance with the Funds Guidelines and Establishment Act as part of its oversight function.
“Kindly note that you are expected to stay in action on the implementation process until submission and appearance before the committee is concluded.”
University Of Uyo VC, Busar Summoned In 2023 Over Unutilised Grant
THE WHISTLER further obtained a separate document emanating from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Matters dated July 2023, which revealed that the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo and the Busar were summoned by the commission to Abuja.
The ICPC alleged that the university failed to utilise the funds disbursed by TETFUND between 2017 to 2020 meant for staff to attend conferences.
“It has become necessary to have recourse to your institution in respect of funds released to your staff from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to attend conferences between 2017-2020 which is yet to be utilised.
“Pursuant to Section 28 of the said (ICPC) Act, you are kindly requested to appear alongside with Busar before the undersigned at the com mission’s headquarters, Abuja for an interview on Wednesday 6th September, 2023 at 10:am.”
The document revealed that the ICPC requested the VC and bursar to present a “List of Staff that benefited from the TETFUND intervention to attend Conferences for the period.
“Total amount released to the University and summary of disbursement to beneficiaries and evidence of conference attendance by each staff.”
The ICPC also directed the affected staff to refund the unutilised fund released by TETFUND under conferences.
The ICPC directed them to refund the amount to TSA Recovery Account through Remita platform and provide evidence of refund not later than 30th September, 2023.
