Make access to TETFund easier, VC tells FG

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, has appealed to the Federal Government to relax the procedure for accessing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Ambali made the appeal in Abuja, when he appeared at the Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria.

NAN reports that tertiary institutions had yet to access about N43bn with TETFund due to cumbersome procedure.

The VC noted that the protocol involved in accessing the funds was tedious, adding that many universities would have loved it to be made easier.

“I am sure the protocol in TETFund is not Bible or Quran that cannot be changed to make things much easier for all stakeholders.

“I am sure that sooner or later, TETFund will meet to look at the protocol and review it with a view to making it more accessible if possible,” he said.

Ambali added that making the process of accessing the funds easier would improve the funding of the universities and polytechnics.

He said the process was cumbersome for officials involved in the monitoring, assessment and project report and recommendations.

The VC stressed, “What I am saying is that based on the number of universities that we have, based on the number of projects going on in every university, protocol should be made easier.”

He, however, said that UNILORIN had been able to access its funds from TETFund, saying it had been getting its request as at when due.

Ambali said the university had been able to access 85 per cent of its budget, including other assistance allocated to the institution.

“If you go to University of Ilorin today, you will not see any abandoned project, the projects that you will see are ongoing or already completed, waiting for inauguration by Mr. President or minister of education.

“So we do not have much problem when it comes to accessing TETFund grant from the organisation,’’ he said.

The VC also said the school had achieved 60 per cent paperless operations to ease administrative procedures and make its operations environment friendly.

He said that tapping into the electronic platform was imperative, as Information Communication Technology had taken over every field of human endeavour.

“The university has embarked on paperless senate, that one has been on for quite a while now and our council is paperless.

“I am happy to say that at least we have achieved 60 per cent of the paperless activities or deliberations at the council level.

“At the students’ level, they have also been able to collaborate with some establishments, for example, Samsung.

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