By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has dissociated itself from Approvals-in-Principle (AIP) quoting sums as allocations to some institutions in the country that are not beneficiaries of the fund, saying it is the handiwork of fraudsters.
A statement titled “SCAM ALERT” signed by the Acting Director, Public Affairs, TETFund, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, revealed that the development has been mainly concentrated in and around Jos, Plateau State.
“The attention of the Management of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been drawn to some fake Approvals-in-Principle (AIP) quoting outrageous sums as allocations to some institutions that are not even beneficiaries of the Fund. So far, this has been mainly concentrated in and around Jos, Plateau State.
“The fraudulent methods currently being adopted by these unknown individuals or groups includes the issuance of Approval-in-Principle to unsuspecting institutions using the letter head of the Fund and handing same to members of the public in exchange for gratification.
“The fund wish to inform the public that AIP is not tantamount to award of contracts and does not confer financial benefits to third parties. Its issuance is based on allocations of funds specifically to beneficiaries of TETFund which in this case are the Public Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education as expressly stated by the laws establishing TETFund.
“The Management, therefore, dissociates itself from the activities of these individuals or groups and advise stakeholders and the public to be wary of the activities of these fraudsters who come under the guise of consultants to TETFund to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians,” the statement read in part.
TETFund stressed that all communication from fund shall be directly to beneficiary institutions through open transparent channels, adding that its website, www.tetfund.gov.ng could be visited for further clarification on its activities.