In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Sunny Echono, TETFund dismissed the claims as baseless and malicious, affirming its non-involvement in political financing.
Key Highlights from the Statement:
- False Allegation:
- The allegations were linked to a purported letter by Patricia Yakubu, the APC Woman Leader in Adamawa State, addressed to the National Security Adviser. The letter suggested that TETFund had disbursed the funds to the party, a claim TETFund described as “preposterous” and “a great disservice to the nation.”
- Refuting Specific Claims:
- TETFund clarified that General Murtala Mohammed College (GMMC), Yola, cited in the allegations, is not a beneficiary of TETFund projects. Additionally, while the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, is a beneficiary, it is solely responsible for engaging contractors according to the Fund’s policy.
- Political Neutrality:
- The agency emphasized its commitment to its statutory mandate of funding tertiary education in Nigeria. It rejected attempts by “desperate individuals” to undermine its credibility with baseless claims.
- Commitment to National Development:
- TETFund reiterated its dedication to rehabilitating and improving tertiary education, a mission it has pursued consistently over the years, now reinforced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The statement urged the public to disregard the unsubstantiated allegations and called on critics to verify their facts before spreading misleading information.
TETFund reaffirmed its resolve to continue contributing to the development of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector despite distractions.
See the statement below:
“The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is aware that a section of the social media has been inundated with images of a letter purportedly written by the Woman Leader of the Adamawa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Patricia Yakubu to the National Security Adviser, part of which contains insinuations that the party received funding of N325 million between October 2023 and October 2024 from TETFund.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the insinuation is not only preposterous and totally false, but also a great disservice to the Nation that an individual of such political standing, would engage in such frivolity without an iota of evidence.
“To further buttress the futility of the allegations, we wish to state in clear terms that General Murtala Mohammed College (GMMC), Yola where TETFund contracts are alleged to have been sold is not a Beneficiary Institution of TETFund; while FCE Yola which is a Beneficiary Institution is solely responsible for engagement of its contractors in line with the policy of the Fund.
“The Fund has observed that allegations of this nature, sponsored by desperate individuals, have become the trend in recent times but will not be deterred in carrying out its statutory mandate which remains funding for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria.
“The Fund has undertaken this mandate steadily over the years both as ETF and TETFund and with renewed vigour under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. We advise that detractors get their facts right so as to avoid misleading the public.”