Tensions Rise As ASUU And FG Face Off Over Shocking Education Tax Reform

Tensions Rise As ASUU And FG Face Off Over Shocking Education Tax Reform

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is fiercely opposing the Federal Government’s controversial proposal to eliminate the education tax, warning that such a move could spell disaster for Nigeria’s…Tensions Rise As ASUU And FG Face Off Over Shocking Education Tax Reform

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In an exclusive interview with The ireporteronline, ASUU’s National President, Prof. Victor Osodeke, revealed the union’s plans to meet with key Ministers of Education—Tunji Alausa and Suwaiba Ahmad—in a bid to address this critical issue and other challenges plaguing the education sector.

ASUU has already sounded the alarm by sending formal warnings to the Senate President, the Presidency, and other critical stakeholders, stressing that the proposed changes to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) under the 2024 Nigeria Tax Bill would devastate tertiary education in Nigeria.

Osodeke declared, “This proposed tax removal is an existential threat to our universities. We have formally communicated our opposition to the highest authorities, urging them to reconsider this dangerous move.”

The bill, currently in the National Assembly, seeks to slash TETFund’s share of the education tax to a mere 50%, with other agencies like NITDA, NASENI, and NELFUND getting a chunk. By 2030, TETFund stands to lose all funding, severely crippling its ability to support vital university infrastructure, research, and postgraduate education.

ASUU has vowed to fight the bill tooth and nail, calling it illegal and a direct attack on public universities. The union also raised alarms about the failure to remove university staff from the contentious Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which it claims doesn’t fit the unique needs of academics.

With TETFund being the backbone of Nigerian tertiary institutions for over 25 years, ASUU maintains that any reduction in funding would undo years of progress.

Osodeke emphasized, “Education cannot continue to suffer from neglect. We are determined to ensure that TETFund’s critical role in university development is preserved.”

The battle lines are drawn as ASUU gears up for a showdown with the Federal Government over the future of Nigeria’s education sector.

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