The federal government has disbursed about N13 billion worth of interest-free loans to 7,450 academic and non-academic workers across 153 public tertiary institutions nationwide.
In a statement issued on Friday, Boriowo Folashade, director of press and publications at the federal ministry of education, said the disbursement forms part of the 2025/2026 cycle of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF).
According to the ministry, the intervention reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare, financial wellbeing and productivity of education workers under the renewed hope agenda.
Established by the ministry of education and administered by the Bank of Industry (BOI), the TISSF provides interest-free loans of up to N10 million to eligible staff of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The loan is designed to help beneficiaries address personal and professional needs while enhancing their overall wellbeing.
The statement said Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in personnel driving teaching, learning, research and innovation across tertiary institutions.
The ministry added that the programme is helping to ease financial pressures on education workers, improve livelihoods and strengthen the workforce responsible for shaping Nigeria’s future.
Tunji Alausa, minister of education, described the scheme as a critical component of the ministry’s broader education reform agenda and urged eligible staff to take advantage of the next application window.
According to the minister, “no education system can outperform the people who sustain it”.
He said investments in infrastructure, technology, skills development, research and institutional reforms must be complemented by practical measures that improve staff welfare and quality of life.
Alausa added that the successful completion of the 2025/2026 phase demonstrates both the strong demand for and positive impact of the intervention.
He said the programme complements ongoing efforts to strengthen teaching and learning, support research and innovation, improve institutional governance, and build a more resilient and globally competitive education system.
“Since disbursements commenced on 28 October 2025, the programme has processed over 42,000 applications through its digital platform, providing support to beneficiaries across all six geopolitical zones of the country,” the statement reads.
“Universities accounted for 52 per cent of disbursements, while colleges of education and polytechnics represented 25 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.”
The ministry said the programme has promoted equitable access nationwide while identifying opportunities to increase participation among female staff and improve uptake in some regions.
Female beneficiaries accounted for 19 percent of recipients during the 2025/2026 cycle, according to the statement.
The statement added that targeted sensitisation and outreach efforts would form a key component of the next phase of implementation.
The ministry said it is enhancing the application process and deepening engagement with participating institutions to ensure a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience for applicants.
The statement said applications for the 2026/2027 phase of the TISSF will officially open at the end of June 2026, with eligible staff advised to engage their institutions’ bursary departments and monitor official ministry communication channels for further details.