TETFund Flags OAU, UNIBEN, UNIPORT, 35 Others for Suspect Spending

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has flagged 38 tertiary institutions across the country for financial irregularities in their handling of allocations received in the 2024 financial year.

In its recently released annual report, the Fund said the anomalies were traced to incomplete financial retirements by the affected schools. According to the report, several institutions failed to submit key documents such as payment vouchers and full bank statements, while others could not provide evidence of statutory deductions and remittances to the relevant authorities.

Among the institutions listed are the National Open University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Federal University of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Jos, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Federal University of Technology Akure, and Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.

State-owned universities and polytechnics were not spared. They include Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Dennis Osadebay University, Ebonyi State University, University of Calabar, Cross River State University, Niger Delta University, Federal University Gusau, Kano State Polytechnic, Kaduna Polytechnic, Institute of Management Technology Enugu, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas Rivers State, Imo State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Bali, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic, Ekiti State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, and the FCT College of Education, Adamu.

Others flagged are Augie College of Education, Kaduna State College of Education, Niger State College of Education, Federal College of Education Zuba, Federal College of Education Iwo, Abia State College of Education Arochukwu, and Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of TETFund’s operations. Earlier in April 2024, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly interrogated three directors of the agency over a ₦3.8 billion contract scandal. Those invited included the Director of Finance and Accounts, Gloria Olotu; Director of Human Resources and General Administration, Kolapo Okunola; and Director of ICT, Joseph Odo.

At the time, TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, had dismissed widespread allegations of corruption within the Fund. However, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) later petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling for a deeper probe into alleged irregularities in contract awards, including transactions made in foreign currencies — a practice the group described as illegal under Nigerian law.