The Federal Government has introduced a new initiative, the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), aimed at improving the welfare and professional development of workers in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.

Announcing the scheme, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the fund is designed to benefit both academic and non-academic staff, enhancing financial stability, promoting career growth, and improving overall quality of life. The announcement was made through a statement issued in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education.

TISSF, according to the minister, is a welfare-focused loan programme that offers eligible tertiary institution staff access to up to N10 million, with the loan amount capped at 33.3 percent of an individual’s gross annual salary. The fund is intended to support essential needs such as transportation, healthcare, and small-scale entrepreneurial ventures like poultry farming.

Dr. Alausa explained that the initiative would be implemented in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, which will oversee the disbursement process. This partnership is aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient delivery of the programme’s objectives.

He emphasized that the fund is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader efforts to reposition the tertiary education sector by investing not only in infrastructure and policy reforms but also in the people who power the institutions.

“TISSF is not just about welfare. It is about empowerment,” the minister stated. “We are ensuring that our education workforce is supported to live well, grow professionally, and continue contributing meaningfully to institutional excellence.”

The initiative is expected to serve as a morale booster for education workers nationwide, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education system through sustained human capital development