The federal government has disbursed N38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions across the country under the Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund.
The disbursement, announced by the Federal Ministry of Finance, covers 79 universities, 46 polytechnics and 41 colleges of education.
It is meant to support approved projects aimed at addressing infrastructure gaps and improving teaching and learning facilities in the institutions.
Efe Ovuakporie, Director, Press Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Of the total sum, universities received the largest share, N28.5 billion for 79 institutions. Polytechnics got N5.8 billion for 46 institutions, while colleges of education received N4.7 billion for 41 institutions.
The intervention forms part of the federal government’s efforts to address the needs of public universities and support the implementation of agreed measures under the Memorandum of Understanding between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
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The Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund was established following the 2012 needs assessment of Nigerian public universities, which exposed severe decay in infrastructure, laboratories, libraries, hostels and lecture halls. Successive governments have since made periodic releases from the fund as part of agreements reached with ASUU to avert strikes and improve conditions in the institutions.
The latest disbursement is therefore seen as a fresh move by the government to show commitment to the agreement with the university lecturers and to prevent a breakdown in the academic calendar.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the funds are expected to enable beneficiary institutions to commence or advance approved projects addressing critical infrastructure and other identified institutional needs, with the overall objective of strengthening the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.
The ministry said the disbursement underscores the importance of effective coordination between the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Education and beneficiary institutions in ensuring that approved public funding translates into tangible improvements in educational infrastructure and institutional capacity.
