Under its 2023 Special High Impact intervention, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N30 billion for disbursement to six universities, six polytechnics, and six colleges of education.

Mr Sonny Echono, the fund’s Executive Secretary, announced this on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja to provide a more detailed breakdown of President Muhammadu Buhari’s N320 billion intervention budget for 2023.

Echono stated that each of the six beneficiary institutions would receive N3 billion, while the six selected polytechnics and institutes of education would each receive N1 billion.

”For this year, six universities, six polytechnics and six Colleges of Education (COE) will benefit from the special high impact project.

”Ibrahim Babangiga University, Lapai; Federal University Wukari, Taraba state; Federal University Birnin-Kebbi; Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Science; Edo State University and Federal University of Technology, Akure, are to get N3 billion each.

”Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Federal Polytechnic, Gombe; Federal Polytechnic Kabo, Kano State; Anambra State Polytechnic; Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny; and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, are to get N1 billion each.

”Also, Plateau State COE; Federal COE, Yola; Federal COE, Zaria; Enugu State COE; Delta State COE, and Taiye Solarin COE are to get N1 billion each,” he said.

According to him, the intervention intends to substantially pump cash into chosen tertiary institutions in order to create a significant turnaround through program upgrades and improvements in the teaching and learning environment.

Echono also revealed that N500 million had been provided to the selected COEs from the six geopolitical zones for micro teaching laboratories.

Federal COE Otukpo, Benue State; Federal COE Jama’are, Bauchi State; Federal COE Sokoto; Federal COE Isu, Ebonyi State; Federal COE Ekiadolor, Edo State; and Federal COE Iwo, Osun State were among them.

He added that N2 billion had been allocated to teaching practice projects in the COEs, and N1 billion had been allocated for the establishment of a diaspora center at the University of Ibadan, as well as student hostels as another area of support for the special intervention.

Echono went on to say that 95% of the N320 billion TETFund payout for 2023 would go directly to eligible tertiary institutions.

He stated that the remaining 5% of the budget would be used for employee pay and benefits, project monitoring, and zonal capital projects.

According to him, the institutions’ yearly direct disbursement constituted 62% of the total disbursement (N198 billion), while 20% of the disbursement (N64.2 billion) is for special disbursement.

He further stated that 10% (N32 million) would go to approved targeted projects at the institutions, with the remaining 3% going to the stabilisation fund.

Echono stated that the Fund was aware of the issues that institutions were facing, particularly the issue of persons targeting academic institutions, kidnapping children, and disrupting academic activity.

He did, however, say that N6 billion had been allocated to institutions in high-risk locations, particularly those with internal security concerns and cases of adoptions.

He stated that there was a need to conduct projects in institutions located in high-risk locations to improve student and instructor safety.

He urged institutions to use all resources wisely, noting that a mechanism had been put in place to monitor performance.

(NAN)