The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has declared that the involvement of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the execution of the teaching practice stipend programme will ensure its successful implementation.

The union cited the agency’s proven track record of transparency and efficiency in disbursing funds to tertiary institutions nationwide.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by Nigerian students from various Colleges of Education to the COEASU leadership in Abuja, the President, Dr Smart Olugbeko, lauded TETFund’s exceptional performance under the leadership of Sonny Echono.

He stressed that the Fund has consistently demonstrated transparency in disbursing substantial amounts yearly to beneficiary tertiary institutions across the country.

On degree awarding status for colleges of education, Olugbeko commended President Bola Tinubu for signing into law the bill granting degree-awarding status to CoEs and for his positive disposition towards payment of teaching practice stipend to students and lecturers.

Olugbeko said the implementation is being worked out by the federal government, while TETFund has been identified as a critical stakeholder in the implementation.

“We have every confidence that TETFund will bring transparency to the process of disbursing the stipends when the time comes,” he said.

Olugbeko added that TETFUND is one organisation that is not afraid to invite academic staff unions to monitor its activities, unlike many organisations.

He added that the unions have been able to provide critical feedback to the agency, which has reflected in the efficiency of its operations.

He thanked the students for their visit and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to supporting their welfare and interests.

Olugbeko assured that COEASU would continue to work tirelessly to ensure that their concerns are addressed and their needs are met.

He enjoined the students to shun evil acts and remain good ambassadors of their institutions.

Reacting, the students, drawn from the various institutions across the country, expressed gratitude to the union for its role in the government’s approval of dual mandate for CoEs.

The spokesperson, Ahmed Akande, however, charged the leadership of the union to ensure that the federal government pays monthly stipends to students on teaching practice, just like their counterparts in Engineering and Medicine, who receive stipends during industrial attachment or housemanship.