The Federal Government has introduced a welfare-focused loan scheme that is designed to enhance the well-being and professional development of staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Known as the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), the loan scheme will provide eligible tertiary institution staff with up to N10 million to support their welfare and development.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.

Alausa said that the initiative, unveiled during a high-level stakeholder engagement session in Abuja, aims to promote financial stability, improve quality of life, and support career advancement for staff across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

He pointed out that the programme will be implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI), which will manage the disbursement process to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective delivery.

The statement noted that the scheme was designed to enhance the welfare and professional development of academic and non-academic staff in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

“Each academic and non-academic staff member is eligible to receive up to ₦10 million, capped at 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary. Each eligible staff member’s uses include transportation, medical support, and micro-enterprise ventures such as poultry farming,” the statement explained.

The minister stated that the Fund is part of the administration’s broader effort to reposition the tertiary education sector in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“TISSF is not just about welfare. It is about empowerment,” the statement read.

“We are ensuring that our education workforce is supported to live well, grow professionally, and continue contributing meaningfully to institutional excellence.

“Participants, including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts, expressed strong support for the initiative. They described it as timely and essential for boosting staff morale and improving performance across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

“The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of TISSF and to build a more resilient, motivated, and empowered workforce in the education sector,” the statement added.