The Federal Government has released N38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions across the country to improve infrastructure and provide better facilities for teaching and learning.

The intervention, under the NEEDS Assessment Revitalisation Fund, covers 79 universities, 46 polytechnics, and 41 colleges of education, with the money earmarked for approved projects to address critical infrastructure shortages and other identified needs.

The Head of Media at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Efe Ovuakporie, announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

She said the funds would enable the beneficiary institutions to begin or continue approved projects designed to improve their facilities and strengthen their capacity to provide quality education.

A breakdown of the disbursement shows that universities received the largest share of N28.5 billion, allocated to 79 institutions. The 46 polytechnics are to receive a combined N5.8 billion, while 41 colleges of education have been allocated N4.7 billion.

The intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the funding and infrastructure needs of public universities and implement measures agreed upon with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The agreement, contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and the university lecturers’ union, provides a framework for addressing issues affecting public university education.

The latest disbursement is expected to help beneficiary institutions tackle infrastructure deficiencies and improve the facilities available to students and lecturers.

According to the Finance Ministry, effective cooperation among the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Education and the beneficiary institutions is necessary to ensure that the money produces measurable improvements in the education sector.

The government is expected to ensure that the funds are applied to the approved projects so that the intervention delivers the intended benefits to the institutions and their students.

The ministry advised members of the public seeking details of the beneficiary institutions and their individual allocations to visit its official website, www.finance.gov.ng.