Tax Reform Bills will defund TETFUND, NITDA, NASENI, destroy Nigeria’s education sector– Northern groups warn

By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) Students Wing, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), has joined the growing opposition to the controversial tax reform bills.

The leader and spokesperson of the CNG, UNIMAID branch, Comrade Fatima Abubakar, at a press conference held on Friday at the Borno State Agency for Mass Literacy Maiduguri, said the proposed reforms would have severe consequences for the country, particularly the northern region.

Fatima expressed concerns about the defunding of vital institutions such as TETFUND, NITDA, and NASENI. These institutions according to her are crucial for the country’s educational, technological, and industrial development.

The CNG students’ wing has analyzed the proposed reforms and concluded that they will disproportionately affect the northern region. The reforms will shift the economic burden onto already struggling populations, especially women and youths ¹.

Fatima highlighted key issues associated with the Tax Reform Bills, including the defunding of pivotal institutions and the phasing out of funding for critical agencies like TETFUND, NITDA, and NASENI.

Education Trust Fund) has been a game-changer for Nigeria’s tertiary education system, stressing that, Its funding has supported: Infrastructural development in many public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Apart from Research grants, she said, which have enabled ground breaking studies in science, technology, and humanities academic training and capacity building programs for lecturers, empower institutions to maintain global standards.

She added that the impact of defunding under the proposed tax reform bills will also affect TETFUND’s allocation which will gradually decline where receive of 50% of the development levy in 2025 and 2026, rising to 66% from 2027 to 2029, as the development levy rate reduces to 3%.

“However, by 2030, TETFUND will be entirely defunded and gradually phase it while the phase out of TETFUND will completely threaten the sustainability of public tertiary institutions, to leave many without the resources needed for infrastructures, research, or academic training among others.

” The impact on Women who form a significant portion of students and academic staff, will bear the brunt of these changes and TETFUND has empowered women through scholarships, research grants, and professional development opportunities,” Fatima said.

The group leader maintained that TETFUND has enabled many institutions to break barriers in academia and leadership, pointing out that, defunding TETFUND would undermine these achievements, deepen gender inequalities in education and employment.

She further explained that NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency) has spearheaded Nigeria’s digital transformation, driving technological innovation and literacy, emphasizing that, Its defunding will hinder Nigeria’s efforts to build a tech-savvy workforce and limit opportunities for women and youth in the digital economy.

“While National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has been also a driving force behind Nigeria’s industrial growth, fostering local engineering and manufacturing capacity.

“Therefore,, cutting its funding will derail efforts to reduce dependency on imports and create sustainable industrial growth will be threaten while economic burden on the vulnerable population,” Fatima added

The CNG said the tax reform bills will disproportionately burden low-income populations, small businesses, and women entrepreneurs, who already struggle with limited resources. As these reforms risk deepening poverty and unemployment in communities where survival is already a daily challenge.

The spokesperson suggested that Key Institutions should be exempted from defunding like TETFUND, NITDA, and NASENI by way excluding them from the proposed defunding hence these institutions are vital to Nigeria’s future, fostering education, innovation, and industrial growth.

She recommended the adoption of Gender-Sensitive Approach Policy makers to ensure that reforms do not inadvertently widen gender inequalities through specific provisions which should be made to protect programs that empower women, particularly in education, technology, and entrepreneurship.

She called for a focus on Sustainable Development instead of defunding key agencies where government should prioritize strategies that enhance revenue collection without undermining critical sectors and strengthen accountability and reducing waste in public spending are more sustainable solutions.

Fatima noted that there is the need to engage stakeholders in policy design through transparent and inclusive dialogue with stakeholders, educational leaders, civil society, and business communities to guide the formulation of tax policies that are fair and equitable.

She urged government to reconsider the proposed tax reform framework. Defunding institutions like TETFUND is tantamount to destabilizing the future of Nigeria’s education system and denying countless young people, particularly women, the opportunity to excel.

“We call on all Nigerians to stand firm in advocating for policies that strengthen, rather than undermine, our national development. The media, as partners in progress, must amplify these issues to ensure accountability and inclusivity in governance.

” It is crucial to recognize that supporting the reform bills could lead to significant negative consequences, undermine key values and potentially jeopardize the well-being of many individuals.

“The proposed changes may disrupt the current balance and fail to address the core issues effectively. Therefore, standing against the reform bills is not just a stance against an ineffective solution but a commitment to safeguarding the interests and rights of those impacted.

” It is essential to prioritize alternative, well-thought-out approaches that truly serve the public best interests,” she said.