TETFund Queries 38 Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges Amid ‘Financial Anomalies’ In Education Trust Fund

A review by SaharaReporters of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) annual report for the 2024 financial year has revealed that 38 tertiary institutions in the country were issued queries over allocations made to them by the Fund.

According to the document, the allocations “were as a result of anomalies observed in the financial retirements submitted by the beneficiary institutions to the fund.”

The document further stated that these anomalies were due to the “non-inclusion of relevant documents such as payment vouchers, complete bank statements, and in some cases not showing evidence of statutory deduction and remittance to the relevant authorities.”

The institutions that were issued queries include 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 the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.

Others 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, Kaduna, 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 FCT College of Education, Adamu.

Others 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, Osun State, Abia State College of Education, Arochukwu, and Federal College of Education, Eha Amufu.

In April 2024, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly grilled three directors of TETFund over an alleged N3.8 billion contract fraud.

The three directors questioned include the agency’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Gloria Olotu; Director of Human Resources and General Administration, Kolapo Okunola; and Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Joseph Odo.

Also in April 2024, Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, denied claims of corruption allegedly ravaging certain quarters of the agency.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption in TETFund.

The group urged the anti-graft agency to investigate alleged irregularities surrounding the contracts awarded by TETFund.

The petition, which was addressed to Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, the EFCC Executive Chairman, was signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju.

HEDA outlined its concerns over the award of contracts in foreign currency by TETFund, a move deemed illegal under Nigerian law.(SaharaReporters)