Over 137 students sponsored abroad by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have absconded, revealed Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the fund. Echono made this statement on Tuesday while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged mismanagement of N2.3 trillion in tertiary education tax by TETFund.
During his appearance, Echono highlighted that these scholars, who were sponsored by TETFund for higher education abroad, have refused to return to Nigeria after completing their programs. He expressed concern over this trend, referring to it as a major crisis. The scholarship recipients are expected to come back to the country as part of the scholarship terms and conditions, which also involve having a guarantor. However, many guarantors have faced hardships when the scholars disappear, as they are held responsible for repaying the funds spent on their behalf.
Echono emphasized that TETFund is collaborating with stakeholders to implement stringent and effective measures against those who refuse to return. The aim is to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the expertise acquired by the sponsored scholars. He stated that cooperation with embassies and educational institutions can facilitate the enforcement of repayment for those who insist on not returning. In cases where scholars fail to repay the expenses, they will be declared persona non grata.
“We will write to the embassies and make it available to those countries, and they will not be able to get jobs. They will be seen as fugitives of law from their countries,” Echono explained. The Executive Secretary acknowledged the alarming number of absconders, with over 137 identified from a review of 40 institutions. The review is still ongoing, indicating the seriousness of the issue.
Echono expressed the need to take a firm stand, mentioning that TETFund might suspend foreign scholarships due to the ongoing exchange rate crisis. He highlighted the challenge of acquiring foreign currency for paying fees, as the Central Bank of Nigeria insists that TETFund source Forex independently, despite taxes being paid in foreign currencies. The resulting additional costs and the insufficient allocation in naira have created financial difficulties.
Considering these challenges, Echono revealed that consultations with stakeholders are underway to potentially suspend foreign training for a year or two. This would enable TETFund to cope with the exchange rate fluctuations and conserve resources. He emphasized the importance of conducting training locally, utilizing the expertise of established Nigerian universities.
Echono also addressed the issue of outstanding debt, stating that the federal government owed TETFund N371.3 billion, of which N46 billion has been repaid thus far. He vehemently denied the allegations of mismanagement of the N2.3 trillion fund, stressing that the probe conducted by the committee aims to prevent the misuse of public funds rather than engage in witch-hunting.
Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, reiterated that the purpose of the investigation was not to witch-hunt, but rather to ensure the proper utilization of public funds.
