JAPA: TETFUND Reports Over 137 Students Sponsored Abroad Absconding

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund revealed that more than 137 students, who were sponsored abroad by the fund, have absconded.

During his appearance before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged mismanagement of N2.3tn tertiary education tax by TETFund, Echono emphasized that scholars who received sponsorship for “higher education” overseas are refusing to return to the country after completing their programs.

Echono expressed his concern, saying, “Some of the scholars we sponsored, when they go abroad, choose not to come back after enjoying our scholarship and obtaining a higher degree. This has become a major crisis.”

He further explained that the scholarship program mandates the scholars to return to Nigeria, and they are required to have a guarantor. However, some scholars’ failure to come back puts undue financial burden on their guarantors, as they are held responsible for repaying the funds spent on the students’ behalf, which has not proven to be effective.

TETFund is currently collaborating with stakeholders to devise “stringent and effective measures” against those who refuse to return, ensuring that Nigeria benefits from their expertise.

“We believe that by working with our embassies and educational institutions, we can enforce the repayment from those who are adamant about not coming back,” Echono stated.

In cases where the scholars don’t repay the funds spent on their education, they will face consequences. TETFund plans to notify the embassies, which will then declare them persona non grata, making it difficult for them to secure jobs and branding them as fugitives from their home countries.

Echono expressed his concern over the alarming number of over 137 absconders identified from around 40 institutions, with the review ongoing. To address the issue, he seeks support from the committee to strengthen existing regulations, ensuring that beneficiaries of the scholarship program fulfill their obligation to return to Nigeria.

Amid an exchange rate crisis, Echono raised the possibility of suspending foreign scholarships. The funds paid to TETFund in foreign currencies at the Central Bank of Nigeria account make it challenging to cover the required dollar amounts for scholars abroad.

To mitigate this, Echono proposed focusing on local training in experienced, first-generation universities, and specialized institutions within Nigeria, retaining resources in-house and coping with foreign exchange fluctuations.

In addition to addressing the issue of absconding scholars, Echono highlighted that the federal government owes TETFund N371.3 billion, with only N46 billion repaid so far.

Regarding the ongoing investigation, the chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, clarified that their intention is not to witch-hunt but to prevent the misuse of public funds.