CONUA Welcomes TISSF Loan Scheme, Urges Government to Address Fundamental Concerns

By Chinedu Echianu

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has commended the Federal Government for launching the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), a ₦10 million loan scheme aimed at improving staff welfare in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. However, the union has urged the government to ensure fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness in the implementation process.
CONUA, which is an offshoot of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) insists that it wants to be part of the implementation and monitoring team to guarantee equity in access. “While the TISSF loan scheme is laudable, it must not distract from the urgent and more fundamental concerns affecting university academics,” said Comrade ‘Niyi Sunmonu, PhD, National President of CONUA in a press statement made available to newsmen.

The union highlighted several core issues requiring urgent government attention, including:
– Settlement of outstanding financial entitlements, such as earned academic allowances, promotion arrears, and withheld salaries
– Appropriate wage review reflecting current economic realities
– Pension-related reforms to address bottlenecks in pension processing and payment

CONUA emphasized that loans are not substitutes for earned entitlements or living wages and appealed to the Federal Government to take holistic actions to restore confidence, uphold the dignity of academics, and reflect an enduring commitment to educational excellence.
The union said it remained committed to constructive engagement with stakeholders in the education sector to advocate for principled unionism, staff welfare, and the growth of Nigeria’s university system.