The House of Representatives is considering including Inter–University Centres among beneficiaries of funds available to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for improved training and research at the centres.
The House passed, for second reading a bill seeking to include the centres sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and eight others including Tolani Shagaya (APC, Kwara).
The inter-university centres include National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja; National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, Abia State; Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV), Badagry, Lagos State; and National Arabic Language Village, Ngala, Borno State among others.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Tolani Shagaya recalled that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was established under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, No.16 of 2011 to provide supplementary support for the general development of public tertiary institutions across the federation.
He said the scheme has grown to become one of the most impactful institutional frameworks in the nation’s education sector through the improvement of infrastructure, provision of learning, instructional tools and equipment, training and re-training of both academic and non-academic staff, and fostering research and innovation in the nation’s public tertiary institutions.
He lamented that the Inter-University Centres, which are established by Acts of the National Assembly to serve all Universities have been excluded from this support framework, despite the fact that they play a unique and indispensable role in advancing tertiary education across Nigeria.
These Centres, he said designed to fill critical academic, linguistic, and research gaps, serve as specialised knowledge hubs for all, but sadly they currently do not receive any support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, even though their academic and training work directly supports the same university system that education tax is meant to fund.
Shagaya said that the amendment is not just necessary, it is a matter of equity, inclusion, and academic relevance, adding that the swift passage of the Bill will enhance the overall development of the nation’s tertiary education system.
He said, “InterUniversity Centres support the entire university ecosystem by offering centralised expertise, hosting advanced research, conducting nationwide language training, and enhancing academic cooperation across institutions. Yet, because they are not classified as traditional universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education, they have been excluded from the funding streams that sustain similar tertiary institutions.
“This situation has placed the Inter-Universities Centres at a serious disadvantage — leaving them underfunded, under-equipped, and undervalued, despite their clear national mandate. This Bill seeks to correct that anomaly and to ensure that Inter-University Centres are recognised for their contributions and supported accordingly.
“The Bill proposes following key amendments to the Principal Act – (a) Amendment of section 4 which provides for the recognition of InterUniversity Centres under the Act; (b) Amendment of section 7, which provides for a new allocation/sharing ratio of 2:1:1:1 which will consequently provide for funding of the InterUniversity Centres (this ratio is could be further adjusted at the Committee Stage when inputs of stakeholders have been taken); and (c Amendment of section 20 which provides for the interpretation and meaning of “Inter-University Centres”.
“This is a practical and inclusive amendment that ensures no vital academic institution is left behind. By providing for the recognition of Inter-University Centres as eligible beneficiaries of the tax imposed under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act, the Inter-University Centres would be reinforced, become stronger, and become more coherent structural support for the nation’s tertiary education system.”
