The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has raised serious concerns over the disbursement of billions of naira in intervention funds to a polytechnic in the Southeast with only 30 students.
The shocking revelation was made by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, during a strategic workshop in Abuja on Monday, May 12, 2025. Echono described the situation as “embarrassing” and confirmed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is already investigating the case.
Although the polytechnic’s name was not disclosed, Echono said it was established just four years ago. Despite its tiny student population, the institution has reportedly accessed full annual disbursements from TETFund meant for well-functioning schools.
“In the Southeast of all places—where young people are known to pursue education seriously—this polytechnic has just 30 students and yet has received billions. It’s a clear waste of public funds,” Echono said.
He warned that any institution that fails to meet enrollment, performance, or financial accountability standards could be removed from the list of TETFund beneficiaries.
TETFund allocates about N1.165 billion to each polytechnic annually, including N1.015 billion in direct funding and N150 million for zonal interventions.
Echono also disclosed that the Fund has set aside over N70 billion this year to provide solar and hybrid power solutions to schools, further showing the scale of its national investments.
Officials from the NUC, NBTE, and NCCE praised TETFund’s impact but stressed the need for transparency and proper use of funds across all institutions.
