Chidimma Uchegbu
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has called for the suspension of the Tax Bill currently before the National Assembly so as to enable elaborate debate on its implication on the life of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Speaking in a statement made available to journalists Tuesday, the Union said that nothing must be done to jeopardize the smooth and effective operations of TETFund.
The statement signed by the COEASU President, Dr. Smart Olugbeko, reads: “Our Union, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), has noted with serious concern the inimical effect of the proposed tax reforms of the Federal Government on Tertiary Education in Nigeria. The Tax reform is nothing but a dangerous ambush aimed at destroying public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. We strongly reject the aspects of the proposed tax administration which aims to withdraw or impede on the source of fund to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Such injury, if allowed to stand, is bound to undermine the development of public tertiary education in Nigeria.
“TETFund is a brainchild of the struggles of academic staff unions in tertiary institutions led by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Prior to the establishment of Tetfund, infrastructure in tertiary institutions were in a shambles and government of Nigeria became clueless on the way forward until the Academic Staff Union came up with a brilliant idea of a Trust Fund for the education sector. Nigeria government has not shown serious concern for education and has willfully destroyed public institutions through its policy somersault and lack of commitment to Education. It is shocking to note that no Nigeria government in the last two decades or more has committed up to 9% of the annual budget to Education despite the UNESCO recommendation that 26% of the annual budget be dedicated to education. The aspect of the Tax reform that allowed Tetfund to be stifled of its source of Fund will gradually drag tertiary institutions into the stock market making them become capitalistic ventures for the highest bidders.
“Except for TETFund which has become the spine and lifeblood of public tertiary education funding, Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education would have gone comatose. TETFund has been playing indispensable and exclusively vital role in the development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, providing funding for infrastructure, research, teaching and learning facilities as well as staff development. Despite the pervading corruption in the country and administrative inefficiency of many government parastatals and agencies, TETFund is one of the best run government establishments in Nigeria with a highly innovative, resourceful, efficient management and well dedicated staff. TETFund has been discharging its responsibilities efficiently and has been the only reason why many public tertiary institutions are still functioning.
“Without prejudice to the potential strengths of the proposed tax administration law in expanding the tax base and reinforcing compliance towards economic stimulation, we condemn its attack on TETFund which is tantamount to an attack on public tertiary education. We suspect a clandestine attempt by the elitist political class to destroy public tertiary institutions completely in order to pave way for their capitalistic privately owned institutions to thrive, just the same way public and secondary schools were left to decay making way for private schools only the rich could afford.
“Rather than killing TETFund through the purported tax reform, the FG should strengthen and expand its revenue accrual sources with a view to sustaining the Fund’s commendable efforts in our institutions. COEASU calls on all stakeholders on education including students, parents, educators, the civil society and all people of goodwill to join us in rejecting this backward proposal in order to save public tertiary education in Nigeria.”
