The Federal Government has launched the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a welfare and empowerment programme offering interest-free loans to academic and non-academic staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Announcing the scheme on Friday, Minister of State for Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described TISSF as a direct response to the welfare and professional development needs of tertiary institution workers.
“It gives me great pleasure to officially launch a landmark initiative that speaks directly to the heart of our commitment to the welfare and professional growth of our nation’s tertiary institution workforce the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund,” Alausa said.
“TISSF is not just a welfare package; it is a strategic empowerment platform designed to give our academic and non-academic staff the financial stability they need to serve our students with renewed dedication, and to live with dignity and pride,” he added, noting that the scheme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Reform Agenda for Education.
A joint initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry, TISSF offers 0% interest loans of up to ₦10 million, capped at 33.3% of a beneficiary’s gross annual salary.
The loan is repayable over five years, with a 12-month grace period before repayment begins.
The fund will support beneficiaries in five key areas:
- Medical Support, surgeries, emergency care, and medication.
- Family & Accommodation Support, rent, home ownership, and renovations.
- Transportation, vehicle purchase (including electric vehicles), motorcycles, tricycles, and CNG conversions.
- Small-Scale Enterprise & Agriculture, poultry, fishing, crop farming, and agro-processing.
- Academic Advancement, professional certifications, degrees, and capacity-building programmes.
- Eligibility is open to confirmed full-time staff academic and non-academic of federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, as well as one state-owned institution of each category per state.
Applicants must have at least five years remaining before retirement and be members of recognised staff unions such as ASUU, SSANU, or NASU.
“To all eligible staff across our universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education: begin your application today. It’s time to seize the moment!” Alausa urged.
Applications can be made via the official portal: https://tissf.education.gov.ng.
