FG Begins Disbursement of 10 Million Naira Zero-Interest Support Fund to 9,000 Tertiary Institution Staff

The Federal Government has officially commenced the disbursement of funds under the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), fulfilling a key welfare promise aimed at enhancing productivity and restoring dignity within the nation’s higher education system.

The commencement of disbursement, announced on Friday, October 31, 2025, through a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, marks the transition of the initiative from planning to full implementation just four months after its launch.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed that the first phase has reached over 9,000 staff members from 219 federal and state tertiary institutions nationwide. This figure accounts for 28 per cent of the 33,000 verified applicants.

Under the TISSF, which is a component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, eligible academic and non-academic personnel can access up to 10 Million Naira in concessionary zero-interest loans. The funds are intended to address essential needs such as housing, medical support, academic advancement, and small business ventures.

Minister Alausa emphasised the strategic importance of the funding, which sees beneficiaries comprising a 30 per cent academic to 70 per cent non-academic staff ratio. “This fund is not merely about disbursement; it is about restoring dignity, rewarding dedication, and rebuilding the foundation of our knowledge economy,” he stated, commending the President for delivering on his commitment to staff welfare.

The Ministry of Education pledged full transparency, announcing that quarterly financial reporting and robust monitoring mechanisms will be implemented to ensure the effective utilisation of the funds and guarantee repayments that will allow access to be expanded to more beneficiaries in the future.