The Federal Ministry of Education has approved a new disbursement model for the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) programme, aimed at ensuring equitable and efficient allocation of financial assistance to staff across tertiary institutions in the country.
In a circular issued on Friday by the Colleges of Education Department and addressed to all Provosts of State Colleges of Education, the Ministry said the new model was officially endorsed following a comprehensive review by the TISSF Steering Committee.
Dr. U. C. Uba, Director, Colleges of Education, who signed the circular on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Education, said the decision followed an overwhelming response to the call for applications which attracted over 36,000 applicants from various tertiary institutions.
He explained that the Committee was tasked with the responsibility of developing a fair, transparent, and efficient approach for fund allocation, guided by the principles of equity, impact, and sustainability.
According to the statement, the disbursement framework is based on two key components: institutional distribution and applicant-level distribution.
Under the institutional model, funds are spread fairly across tertiary institutions to ensure inclusivity across geographic and institutional lines, while the applicant-level distribution ensures that the maximum number of qualified applicants benefit from the available resources without jeopardizing the financial viability of the programme.
Uba disclosed that the approved model enabled the Ministry to support an initial cohort of 9,498 beneficiaries, representing 26 per cent of the total applicants in the first year of implementation.
He added that 95 per cent of the available funds for the first phase had been successfully allocated to ensure maximum impact.
“While we acknowledge that not all applicants could be accommodated in this first year due to funding limitations, plans for Year Two are already underway,” the circular stated.
The Ministry expressed appreciation to participating institutions for their cooperation and support during the application and selection process, describing their role in facilitating access for staff as “invaluable.”
It further assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to expanding the programme and strengthening the tertiary education system through continuous support for staff welfare and institutional development.
Further details on institutional allocations and implementation guidelines are expected to be released soon through the TISSF Secretariat.
For enquiries or clarifications, stakeholders were directed to contact the Secretariat via sp@education.gov.ng.
It’s great the government has done a good to staff