Why Lagos fails to access N4.5bn TETFUND allocation in six years – Reps Committee

By Sodiq Adelakun

The House of Representatives Technical Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has revealed that Lagos State has failed to access N4.5 billion earmarked for the state in the last six years due to its inability to meet the funding criteria.

Chairman of the committee, Miriam Onuoha, disclosed this yesterday while on an oversight visit to Lagos State at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Onuoha said, “Lagos State has not been able to access the fund due to its inability to meet the criteria for such funding. We are here to find out the reason behind the state’s failure to access the fund and proffer solutions to the challenges.”

She added, “The committee is working to ensure that the impediments that have prevented the state from accessing the fund are relaxed. We want to ensure that the cumulative funds from 2017 to 2023 are accessed. It’s a loss for the state and the country if the funds are not utilized.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu appealed to the committee to increase the funding allocated to the state, saying, “We now have four universities in the state, and we deserve more financial assistance from the Federal Government.”

Recall that the TETFUND Act was established to provide support to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, but Lagos State has failed to access the funds due to its inability to meet the funding criteria.