By Paul Effiong
House of Representatives has passed a Bill seeking the inclusion of Inter–University Centres among the beneficiaries of the tax imposed under the TETFUND Act, for second reading.
The Bill with the title: “Bill for an Act to Amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act, No.16, 2011 to Provide for the Inclusion of Inter–University Centres among beneficiaries of the Tax Imposed under the Act; and for Related Matters HB.1754,” was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and eight other lawmakers.
The inter-university centres in the country, include institutions such as -the 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.
In his lead debate on the general principles of the Bill , one of the co-sponsors, Tolani Shagaya informed that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, was established under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, No.16 of 2011 in order to provide supplementary support for the general development of public tertiary institutions.
According to the lawmaker, the scheme has grown to become one of the most impactful institutional frameworks in the 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 that is fostering research and innovation in the nation’s public tertiary institutions.
He, however, said 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 unique and indispensable roles in advancing tertiary education across Nigeria.
He informed that these centres was designed to fill critical academic, linguistic and research gaps, as well as serve as specialised knowledge hubs for all, even as he also expressed disappointment that currently, there is no support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, even though their academic and training directly supports the same university system that education tax is meant to fund.
While calling for an amendment into the establishment Acts, he stressed that such will ensure equity, inclusion and academic relevance.
He also expressed the hope that the swift passage of the Bill will enhance the overall development of the tertiary education system.
According to him, “Inter-University 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.”
