TETFund and ICPC address funding and corruption in Nigerian tertiary education

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have issued directives to Nigerian tertiary institutions regarding financial management and infrastructure development.

ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu warned heads of universities and polytechnics against corruption risks, including weak procurement practices, poor project supervision, and financial mismanagement. He emphasized that increased funding will not improve educational outcomes without transparency, accountability, and strengthened internal controls to ensure value for money in TETFund-funded projects.

Simultaneously, TETFund Executive Secretary Sonny Echono urged beneficiary institutions to adopt Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to bridge the funding gap caused by dwindling resources and rising construction costs. Echono highlighted the need for private sector investment in areas such as student hostels, commercial farms, and research. He noted that currently, fewer than 15 percent of students live on campus, and he encouraged the use of the Fund’s digital learning platform to improve access to educational materials.