By Anita John 
ABUJA | OCT 30: The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a major welfare initiative of Nigeria’s government designed to boost staff morale, productivity, and innovation across government’s universities and polytechnics.
- Over 9,000 tertiary staff to benefit in the first phase
- ₦10 million zero-interest welfare loans offered per staff
- Fund targets both academic and non-academic personnel
Launched in August 2025 after a series of high-level stakeholder meetings, the TISSF has more than 9,000 verified beneficiaries, who are receiving payments in the first year. According to the Federal Ministry of Education in a statement, the figure represents 28% of 33,000 approved applicants drawn from 219 federal and state tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
In its first phase, the fund will support a 30:70 ratio of academic to non-academic staff, the statement said.
Commending the President Bola Tinubu for the initiative, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa said:
“The President is delivering for our tertiary institutions — for welfare, for productivity, and for the future. Within just four months, payments have started going out. This is a President that delivers, and the Ministry of Education is profoundly grateful for his continuous support and commitment to staff welfare,” he said.
According to the ministry, the TISSF forms part of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at enhancing staff morale and institutional performance.
Through zero-interest loans and welfare packages, the fund provides each staff member with access to loans of up to ₦10 million to tackle key livelihood challenges including housing, healthcare, education, mobility, and small business development.
“This fund is not merely about disbursement; it is about restoring dignity, rewarding dedication, and rebuilding the foundation of our knowledge economy,” Dr. Alausa added.
The ministry further reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, with plans for quarterly financial reporting and continuous engagement with institutions to ensure that the fund improves welfare and institutional performance sustainably.
“Every naira disbursed must translate into improved welfare, motivation, and performance,” the ministry stated.
What is TISSF?
The Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF) is a federal government initiative providing financial and welfare support to staff in public tertiary institutions through concessional loans and productivity-linked benefits under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
TISSF was launched on August 14, 2025, by the Federal Ministry of Education.
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Opeyemi Quadri