FG disburses N13 billion interest-free loans to 7,450 tertiary education workers

The Federal Government says it has completed the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund, disbursing over N13 billion in interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic staff.

The Ministry of Education disclosed this in a press release issued on June 19, adding that the loans were granted to staff across 153 public tertiary institutions nationwide.

It also announced that applications for the next phase will open at the end of June 2026.

The intervention, established by the Federal Ministry of Education and administered by the Bank of Industry, provides interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible staff of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with the facility designed to address personal and professional financial needs.

What the government is saying

The Ministry described the programme as one of the largest staff welfare initiatives in Nigeria’s education sector and also framed it as a direct expression of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda commitment to improving the welfare and productivity of education workers.

• “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in the people who drive teaching, learning, research, and innovation across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions,” the ministry said.

The president also said that through the TISSF, the Federal Government is easing financial pressures on education workers, improving livelihoods and strengthening the workforce responsible for shaping the country’s future.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the programme as a critical component of the Ministry’s broader education reform agenda and encouraged eligible staff to take advantage of the upcoming application window.

• “No education system can outperform the people who sustain it,” Alausa said, stressing that ongoing investments in infrastructure, technology, skills development, research and institutional reforms must be matched by practical measures that improve staff welfare and quality of life.

More insights

Since disbursements began on 28 October 2025, the programme has processed more than 42,000 applications through its digital platform, reaching beneficiaries across all six geopolitical zones of the country.

• Universities accounted for 52% of disbursements, while colleges of education and polytechnics represented 25% and 23% respectively, indicating that university staff made up the largest single share of beneficiaries.
• Female beneficiaries accounted for just 19% of recipients during the 2025/2026 cycle, a gap the Ministry has flagged as an area requiring deliberate intervention going forward.
• The Ministry said targeted sensitisation and outreach efforts will form a key component of the next phase of implementation, specifically aimed at improving uptake among female staff and in regions where participation has lagged.
• To improve the application experience, the Federal Ministry of Education said it is enhancing its digital application process and deepening engagement with participating institutions to make the process faster, more efficient and more user-friendly for applicants.

Applications for the 2026/2027 phase of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund will officially open at the end of June 2026, with eligible academic and non-academic staff encouraged to engage with their institutions’ bursary departments and monitor official Ministry communication channels for application guidelines.

What you should know

The Federal Government has consistently taken to improve the quality of education in Nigeria through teacher development programmes, policy reforms, and increased investment in learning infrastructure.

Earlier, Nairametrics reported that the Federal Government has designated June 29 to July 3, 2026, as National Learning Assessment Week as part of preparations for Nigeria’s first nationwide learning assessment exercise.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the assessment will be conducted across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The ministry said the exercise is aimed at generating credible data on students’ learning outcomes to inform educational planning, guide policy reforms, improve resource allocation, and enhance the quality of education across the country.