TETFUND earmarks N25b for upgrade of labs in institutions

• Laments poor salary of academics

THETertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND) has earmarked N25 billion for the upgrade of laboratories, workshops and equipment in the nation’s public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education ( Technical). Executive Secretary of the agency, Sonny Echono, who disclosed this at a forum for heads of beneficiary institutions, also announced approval of N5 billion research grants to Nigerian scholars.

He said: “We want to ensure that the institutions not only have equipment, but also have sustainable power for them to be functional. A committee would be set up to review and it would be done on a competitive basis. We are not just going to throw money at the problems. We want to see that these facilities will be properly upgraded and put to use.”

Echono also commended scholars and researchers for making giant strides in the area of research.

He, however, decried the low remuneration of academics, and advocated payment of ‘ reasonable salaries’ to scholars.

“The salaries of our academics are something that we should address because we cannot pretend that we don’t know that all our best brains are leaving. While it is a good idea for us to export intellectual assets, we need a basic minimum to service our needs locally. So, while we are expanding the provision, let us ensure that we pay reasonable salaries. With a total take home pay of a professor of over 20 years less than N500,000, how do you attract international scholars for cross- fertilisation of ideas?”

The agency also announced plans to expand access for the diverse students of the National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN) by upgrading their study centres to facilitate improved access to teaching, learning and research.