The National Association Of University Students strongly disapproved the postponement of the launch of the Students Loans Scheme, originally set to start the following day.
The NAUS response comes after Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, announced during an Arise News interview that the Thursday launch is no longer possible.
Remember that Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, also known as the Students Loan Law, on June 12, 2023, with the aim of providing interest-free loans for financially disadvantaged students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The government had originally planned to start the scheme in September, but it didn’t happen.
Later, Tinubu set January 2024 as the new target for the launch of the Students Loan Scheme.
While inaugurating the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja on October 23, 2023, the President stated that the new Students Loan Programme must begin by January 2024, with an allocation of N50 billion for its launch in the 2024 budget submitted to the National Assembly in November.
Reacting to the postponement, the National President of the Association, Comrade Obaji Marshall, described the delay as unacceptable, extending the suffering of Nigerian students.
“The NAUS strongly disapproves the postponement of the Student loan program, and we have no option but to criticize the government for ignoring our earlier requests,
“Although the Federal Government deserves credit for introducing the idea, NAUS is unhappy with the lack of Student representation in the special committee, which may be partly responsible for the delayed launch,” he said.
However, the NAUS President urged Central Bank Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso and Mr. Akintude Sawyer NELFUND Executive Secretary to work extra hours to deliver the new idea and ease the anticipation of eager students.
Marshall stressed that “the postponement is unacceptable, and we urge Mr. President to inform stakeholders and all involved parties that the Student Loan Scheme needs to start as soon as possible, as university students and their peers in other tertiary institutions are eagerly waiting.”
The National Association Of University Students strongly condemned the postponement of the launch of the Students Loans Scheme, previously scheduled to begin the next day. The NAUS response comes after an announcement by Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, during an Arise News interview that […]
