Nigeria Disburses ₦38.93 Billion to 166 Public Tertiary Institutions

The Nigerian Government has released ₦38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions nationwide under the Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund to address infrastructure deficits and improve teaching and learning facilities.

The intervention covers 79 universities, 46 polytechnics and 41 colleges of education, with universities receiving the largest share of the allocation.

The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Head of Media, Efe Ovuakporie, saying the funds would support approved projects in beneficiary institutions.

“The Nigerian Government has disbursed N38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions nationwide under the Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund,” the statement read.

According to the ministry, universities will receive ₦28.5 billion, while polytechnics and colleges of education have been allocated ₦5.8 billion and ₦4.7 billion, respectively.

An analysis of the figures shows that universities account for approximately 73.2 per cent of the announced ₦38.93 billion intervention, making them the largest beneficiaries.

Polytechnics account for about 14.9 per cent, while colleges of education represent approximately 12.1 per cent of the allocation.

The ministry said the intervention was designed to address longstanding infrastructure challenges in public tertiary institutions and support the implementation of agreements reached between the Nigerian Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

“The intervention forms part of the Nigerian Government’s efforts to address the needs of public universities and support the implementation of agreed measures under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigerian Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities,” it stated.

The Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund is intended to improve institutional infrastructure and address other identified needs, particularly in public universities, where inadequate facilities have remained a recurring concern in negotiations between the government and academic unions.

The ministry said the latest disbursement would enable beneficiary institutions to begin new projects or continue previously approved interventions aimed at improving their operational capacity.

“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,” it added.

The Nigerian Government also stressed the need for coordination among the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Education and beneficiary institutions to ensure that the released funds translated into measurable improvements.

According to the ministry, effective collaboration would be essential to converting the financial intervention into better infrastructure, stronger institutional capacity and improved learning conditions across the country’s public tertiary institutions.