Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), Arc Sonny Echono has expressed optimism that Education Tax would likely increase to 3 percent as the government grows its investment in the education sector.
This investment, according to Echono, would go into expanding the frontiers of education and the sector is structured in the country.
Echono who gave the hints in Abuja when the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong paid him a courtesy visit at the Fund’s Headquarters, further called on tertiary institutions in Nigeria to produce entrepreneurs and not just graduates.
According to him, investments in creating entrepreneurs would go along way to curbing the menace of unemployment and consequently tackle the socio-economic problems prevalent in the country.
Echono added that one of his primary goals is to make Tertiary Institutions a place to produce entrepreneurs noting that with the support of the federal government, TETFUND plans to reinforce the huge investments in the new Universities to fast track their rate of progress with a view to achieving the purpose of establishing them.
“The increased tax would facilitate the implementation of more developmental projects in the education sector,” Echono said.
Earlier, Governor Lalong lauded the agency for the numerous iconic projects dotting the tertiary institutions in plateau State, saying TETFUND has become a lifeline for the schools.
The Governor expressed optimism that the newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Fund would keep up the good work of his predecessor, Prof. Elias Bogoro, ‘who made a lot of impact in the development of tertiary institutions across Nigeria.’
Assuring Echono of his support in discharging his duties, Lalong assured that as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, he ‘would make sure the Executive Secretary get the support of other northern governors.’