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ABUJA – The Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has threatened to boycott institutions known for delays in executing projects in their domain, warning that such beneficiary institutions will not get approval to commence new projects in the 2027 allocation cycle.
The board took the resolution on Wednesday, hinging it on the need to address delays associated with executing approved projects and ensure that interventions are delivered within stipulated timelines, prescribed costs and required quality standards.
Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, who gave the warning, noted that the board had reviewed the factors responsible for delays in project delivery across beneficiary institutions and introduced measures to address the challenges.
A statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, however, attributed the delays to volatility in the prices of key building materials, including cement, reinforcement bars, sanitary fittings and electrical materials.
Masari said the challenges informed the introduction of a dedicated intervention line in 2023 to support the completion of affected projects.
“The board introduced a new intervention line dedicated to the completion of distressed projects in response to the challenges confronting beneficiary institutions,” he said.
He noted that a recent review showed that the initiative had achieved encouraging results, with many previously delayed projects now completed.
“Following the introduction of the intervention, a recent review confirmed that the initiative yielded the desired results, as many of the affected projects have since been completed,” the statement added.
The board also expressed concern over the continued failure of some institutions to comply with approved project timelines.
Masari attributed the recurring delays largely to a lack of continuity in project implementation by successive heads of beneficiary institutions, some of whom, he said, preferred to initiate new projects rather than complete inherited ones.
He also identified delays in processing payments to contractors as a major factor contributing to the avoidable backlog of unfinished projects.
“The board frowned at the continued non-adherence to stipulated timelines for the completion of TETFund-sponsored projects.
“Lack of continuity in project implementation by heads of beneficiary institutions, who prefer to commence new projects, as well as delays in processing payments to contractors, are largely responsible for this avoidable development,” it added.
The board further warned that projects funded by TETFund would not be allowed to suffer as a result of internal bureaucracy, administrative bottlenecks or institutional politics.
“TETFund-sponsored projects must not be negatively affected by internal bureaucracy and politics within beneficiary institutions,” the board stated.
To provide a lasting solution to the recurring problem of distressed projects, the board approved a number of measures for immediate implementation. Under the new directives, all beneficiary institutions are required to compile comprehensive lists of projects that have exceeded their planned completion periods by more than six months.
The institutions are also expected to identify the causes of the delays and provide practical remedies for completing the affected projects.
In addition, the projects must be ranked according to their relevance and priority, with detailed cost estimates prepared for their completion.
The board also directed beneficiary institutions to establish robust and effective project supervision teams, with the active participation of their Physical Planning and Maintenance Departments.
The teams are expected to ensure that projects are delivered on schedule, within approved costs and in line with stipulated quality standards.
“Beneficiary institutions must put in place effective supervision mechanisms to ensure project delivery on time, at the prescribed cost and according to the specified quality standards,” the statement said.
“As part of the sanctions approved by the board, institutions with delayed projects will be required to prioritise their completion through their Annual, Zonal and High Impact Intervention allocations.
“Consequently, no new projects will be admitted from identified institutions under the 2027 intervention cycle until their outstanding projects are adequately addressed.
“Institutions with delayed projects will be required to prioritise their completion under the Annual, Zonal and High Impact Intervention lines. “Accordingly, no new projects will be admitted from the identified beneficiary institutions for the 2027 intervention cycle.”
