The immediate past President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has cautioned the government against the proposed plan to phase out the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). He warned that scrapping TETFund would have devastating effects on Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the National Leadership Retreat organized by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in Abuja, Wabba emphasized that TETFund has been a critical source of funding for university infrastructure and staff training. He stated that eliminating it would leave universities in a dire state, as the national budget is already inadequate to meet their needs.
The proposed tax reform bill currently under consideration at the National Assembly recommends that, starting in 2025, only 50 percent of the Education Tax will be allocated to TETFund. By 2030, the bill plans for the complete phasing out of TETFund, redirecting all funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Wabba argued that the major funding for universities comes from TETFund, especially for critical infrastructure and academic staff training. He noted that many university facilities are already in poor condition, and without TETFund’s intervention, the situation would deteriorate further.
He also pointed out that state governors and trade unions strongly oppose the scrapping of TETFund, as they recognize its vital role in sustaining the education sector. He urged the government to prioritize education funding and strengthen TETFund rather than weaken it.
On labour issues, Wabba stressed the importance of strong collective bargaining in resolving disputes, stating that strikes should be a last resort. He highlighted that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) encourages prioritizing collective bargaining to ensure fair treatment of workers.
He acknowledged that while strikes cannot be entirely ruled out, they often result from employers neglecting workers› welfare. He described workers as the backbone of the economy, whose interests must be taken seriously to ensure a stable work environment.
Regarding concerns about internal sabotage within labour unions, Wabba reassured that unions have mechanisms to address such challenges and maintain unity. He urged workers to remain committed to their unions in the fight for their rights.
Reacting to reports that some workers received reduced salaries, he advised affected individuals to report to their respective unions. He emphasized that salary reductions without proper negotiation are illegal and that labour unions would escalate such cases to the appropriate authorities for resolution.
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