By Juliet Jacob
The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has urged the Federal Government to ensure strict and judicious use of the N320.3bn intervention fund approved for tertiary institutions in the country.
The executive secretary of Tertiary Intervention Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny Echono, at the annual strategic planning workshop with heads of beneficiary institutions in Abuja,announced N320,345,040,835 as the 2023 intervention funds for public tertiary education institutions.
In a related reaction, the national president of NAUS,Comrade Obaji Marshall, commended President Muhammadu Buhari while urging the government to ensure students are involved in the disbursement and expenditure of the funds in the various universities for appropriate and lasting impact on students welfare.
The NAUS National President said in a press statement “the news of the disbursement approval of the 2023 Tertiary Intervention Fund is a welcome and timely development, because all over the country and across interest groups, the clamour for improved funding for tertiary institutions has been loud, especially in Nigerian Universities where the need for more education infrastructure and upward review on students welfare on and off campus has become a necessity.
Therefore, on behalf of all concerned stakeholders and the leadership of NAUS,I send commendations to the federal government and relevant authorities.”
He further called on various University Management Boards to ensure that students are carried along in the disbursement and fund’s expenditure, in order to create a sense of belonging within the university community, and to ensure that relevant infrastructure and welfare development was effected to impact on students directly and positively.
It is important and mandatory for students to be involved in the disbursement and expenditure of these funds in the various universities, for appropriate and lasting impact on students welfare and educational activities, he said.
