Dr Emmanuel Eche, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at Federal University Wukari, Taraba, has lauded the introduction of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund TISSF, as a promising welfare initiative for university lecturers.
He, however, urged for a careful review of the scheme to maximise its benefits for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Abuja, Eche acknowledged that the scheme could provide much-needed financial support for university staff.
He noted that it allowed access to interest-free loans of up to N10 million, capped at 33.3 per cent of their gross annual salary, offering a significant opportunity to ease financial burdens.
The fund, a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund, and the Bank of Industry, offers a five-year repayment period with a 12-month grace period before repayment begins.
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However, he highlighted some areas of the scheme that could benefit from further refinement, particularly regarding the guarantor role, membership registration, and loan repayment terms.
Eche suggested that clarifying those aspects through stakeholder engagement, especially with ASUU representatives, could enhance the scheme’s effectiveness.
“Ensuring transparency around the guarantor role and the terms of loan repayment will help prevent undue liabilities and financial stress for both members and the union,” he said.
He also emphasised the need to consider existing financial obligations many lecturers already have, to avoid debt accumulation.
Eche further recommended exploring alternative or complementary measures, such as improved compensation packages and clearing outstanding entitlements like promotion and wage arrears, to better support ASUU members’ financial well-being.
He called on the Federal Government to prioritise implementing existing agreements with ASUU while introducing new initiatives, underscoring that “government should help us reflect the values we teach and prepare our students to aspire to across all levels of society.”
With constructive dialogue and targeted adjustments, Eche expressed optimism that the TISSF could become a vital tool in uplifting university staff welfare and human capital development.
