The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Mr Sonny Echono, on Saturday urged both federal and state governments to grant full autonomy to universities.

Echono made the call during a convocation lecture titled, ‘University Autonomy and the Challenge of Quality Tertiary Education in Nigeria,’ held at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

He stated that universities, as ivory towers, have three core mandates: teaching, research, and community service.

The TETFUND Executive Secretary argued that to carry out their functions, both federal and state-owned universities must be granted full autonomy, allowing them greater operational freedom.

Echono explained that university autonomy and academic freedom are separate but fundamental aspects of university operations, crucial for maintaining quality education and fostering academic growth.

He highlighted that the government’s current policy on university autonomy does not fully guarantee freedom, as it retains ultimate control through university governing councils.

Echono urged the Federal Government to grant universities more autonomy to enhance infrastructure and foster collaboration with industries, alumni, and other educational institutions.

He emphasised that autonomy enables universities to build stronger networks, improve infrastructure, and collaborate globally to exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices in education.

“University autonomy also provides opportunities for global collaboration, allowing universities to share ideas, research, and effective teaching methods, benefiting the learning process,” he said.

Echono added that university autonomy would lead to enhanced operational efficiency and improved performance, ultimately fostering the development of quality education for national growth.

In response, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, commended the guest speaker at the university’s 9th convocation ceremony.

Fasina expressed gratitude to TETFUND for its continued support in promoting the university’s development, despite economic challenges.

He assured university stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to improving and promoting quality education at the institution. (NAN)

As National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursements stall in some universities, students are facing increasing challenges in meeting their tuition fee obligations.

The delay in the processing of refunds has caused particular anxiety among final-year students, many of whom have already paid their fees from personal funds and are unsure if or when they will be reimbursed.

Students who receive the NELFUND monthly upkeep of 20,000 Naira are also finding it difficult to balance their living expenses and tuition payments, as the upkeep funds are insufficient to cover both.

The delay in disbursement has created a financial strain, disrupting academic plans and adding to the stress of an already demanding final year.

At Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University (JOSTUM) Makurdi, students have been receiving the 20,000 Naira stipend since December 2024, but the university has not provided updates regarding the delay in the disbursement of the main school fees.

Despite the government’s disbursement of ₦136.7 million to the university, covering the tuition fees of 2,222 students, the funds have not yet been released by the school.

This has left students struggling to find alternative ways to cover their tuition.

The university resumed in January 2025, but there were no updates on whether NELFUND beneficiaries should hold off on paying fees or proceed with registration, it’s gathered.

Fearing late registration, students, including final-year ones, went ahead and paid their school fees out of pocket.

As a result, their names are on the NELFUND beneficiary portal, but they have not received the corresponding tuition coverage, only the N20,000 monthly upkeep.

One final-year student of Microbiology, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern over what would happen to students who paid their fees themselves.

“I have only one semester to graduate, and I have already paid my school fees for this semester. I don’t know what the school plans to do.

“As it stands, it’s like we’re already owing the government for money we didn’t benefit from. Are they going to refund what we’ve paid after graduation?

“I paid over ₦52,000 this semester and have received the monthly allowance of ₦20,000 for over two months. I just hope the school clarifies the situation,” he said.

Another student from the school, Elijah, also expressed frustration, asking, “Some of us have already made the payment, so, are we going to get our money back? We’re still waiting for the refund from the school.”

It’s also gathered that students from other institutions, including the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University, have similarly lamented the inability to get their school fees paid, despite approvals.

However, Comrade Elum Shadrach, Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, assured that the union is working closely with the management to resolve the issue.

“We have confirmed with the school management that the funds for school fees have been received. However, the management is currently working on connecting our school account with Remita so that these funds can be reflected,” he stated.

NELFUND is a government initiative established to provide interest-free loans to Nigerian students pursuing higher education.

The repayment begins two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), providing graduates with a grace period to secure employment and stabilise financially.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has promised to engage stakeholders over the proposed 12-year basic education structure.

Alausa disclosed this during a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

The minister had earlier presented a proposal aimed at transitioning to 12 years of compulsory education within the existing 6-3-3-4 system at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting.

He explained that the proposal was for discussion and not an immediate policy shift.

Alausa added that a major feature of the proposal was the removal of the examination barrier between the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and the Senior Secondary School (SSS).

He said that the proposal would allow students to progress seamlessly without the need for external assessments at that stage.

The minister said the proposal was, however, still under consultation, and its implementation depended on further deliberation.

According to him, over the next eight months, the ministry will engage in extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and others.

Alausa noted that a final decision would be made at the National Council on Education Meeting in October 2025.

The goal of this, he said, was to emulate global best practices in countries like the U.S., the UK, and Ghana, where 12 years of education are made compulsory, leading to improved educational outcomes.

The minister also said that the government was committed to ensuring that the new policy does not disrupt the educational system.

“What we’re saying is that we need to move from what we have now as nine years of compulsory education to 12 years of compulsory education as is obtainable in other parts of the world.

“If you look back into the history of Nigeria, 30 years ago, people that went for primary education got up to standard six.

“If you compare that level of education, the level of instruction, even the standard three then, it’s much better than what we get in JSS three now.

“Today, our quality of instruction and education is falling.

“If we let these kids continue to graduate, if we tell these children that they only have nine years of compulsory education, we’re literally just training illiterates. We’re not preparing them for the future,” he said.

Alausa stated, however, that efforts to improve funding was in top gear, especially for early childhood education.

He added that efforts to strengthen the quality of public schools to equip students with the skills necessary for success in life, whether in further education or the workforce, had been put in place. (NAN)