ABUJA, NIGERIA — August 13, 2025
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) on Wednesday rejected the Federal Government’s newly launched Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF) loan scheme, insisting that payment of outstanding entitlements to its members should take priority.
In a statement signed by its National President, Ibeji Nwokoma, NAAT described the TISSF loan as a “distraction” that would “amount to taking salaries in advance” and potentially “enslave” workers. The union maintained that its members could meet short-term financial needs through their cooperative societies rather than government loans.
NAAT’s demands include:
Payment of three and a half months of withheld salaries.
Settlement of seven months arrears of Occupational Hazard Allowance.
Release of third-party deductions for the two months of withheld salaries that were subsequently paid.
The TISSF, introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education and described on its official portal as a Federal Ministry of Education/TETFund-funded programme, offers loans of up to ₦10 million per eligible staff member, capped at 33.3% of gross annual salary, with disbursement managed in partnership with the Bank of Industry.
While NAAT has rejected the initiative, other unions such as the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) have welcomed the scheme but similarly urged the government to settle all outstanding financial obligations to staff.