The Federal Government has opened the portal for the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF). This scheme offers interest-free loans of up to N10 million for academic and non-academic staff in Nigerian tertiary schools. Details on eligibility, loan use, and application process are outlined below.
From Abuja came the news — the federal government has flipped the switch on the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund portal. For lecturers, lab techs, librarians, admin officers, and every other hand that keeps universities, polytechnics, and colleges running, this is more than another memo. It’s a soft cushion in the form of an interest-free loan, up to N10 million, spread over five years, with a one-year breathing space before repayment starts.
Announced through a post on X by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser and spokesperson to the President, the portal went live at tissf.education.gov.ng.
The idea behind it
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, called TISSF a welfare tool built to lift staff welfare, help with career growth, and give a bit of financial independence. The uses are open but clear — transport needs, small-scale farming, hospital bills, home rent, family support, even funding a degree or research work.
The money isn’t a grant, but the interest-free tag makes it kinder than most loans. Repayment is capped at 33.3% of the borrower’s annual salary, which should keep deductions from feeling like a chokehold.
Where it came from
This fund first surfaced in July during a high-level meeting in Abuja. It was shaped after talks with staff unions, heads of schools, and other key voices. The Bank of Industry is in the mix to keep the books clean and ensure the process stays transparent.
It’s also part of the National Education Sector Renewal Implementation plan — a wider framework meant to fix and refresh the sector. To avoid abuse, the ministry says guard rails are in place, with monitoring and evaluation systems tracking how the scheme is used.
Quick facts
- Open to academic and non-academic staff in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
- Maximum loan: N10 million.
- Interest: Zero.
- Repayment: up to 5 years, starting after a 1-year break.
- Usage: transport, health, housing, family needs, business ventures, academic work.