The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for a probe into the alleged diversion of students’ loans by some tertiary institutions.
The body threatened to embark on a mass protest on April 24 to demand action against culpable institutions.
It also urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a monitoring team to ensure the funds reach targeted beneficiaries.
The NANS National Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Comrade Felicia Akinbodunse, stated this during a briefing in Abeokuta on Thursday.
“On the part of NANS, the National President of the student body has put the zonal leadership of the association on standby to mobilise against schools discovered to be involved in the graft.
“April 24 has been chosen by NANS to organise mass protests across all the zones, to call the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the clandestine moves by some people to divert funds meant for the student loans into their private accounts,” she said.
Akinbodunse said it was regrettable that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, a key initiative of the current administration designed to make higher education accessible to all, was being undermined by the corrupt practices of some tertiary institutions.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to set up a monitoring system to ensure that the funds meant for the student loans get to the targeted beneficiaries.
“As the President’s baby, NELFUND must not be allowed to be rubbished by officials in charge of loan disbursement in higher institutions.
“Mr President must not hesitate to wield the big stick on any higher institution found tampering with loans meant to help the students,” she said.
Akinbodunse said it was saddening that recent investigations by the National Orientation Agency into the disbursement of student loans revealed that the scheme was being tampered with by officials responsible for distributing the funds to eligible students.
The student body said members would not sit by and watch idly as some corrupt bank officials colluded with tertiary institutions to make a mess of their future.
The association also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to launch a comprehensive probe into the alleged sharp practices to bring culpable schools to justice.
“Furthermore, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other Related Offences Commission should be directed to beam their searchlights on institutions suspected of corrupt practices.
“Also, banks found to be conniving with officials of higher institutions to shortchange students should be adequately sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Meanwhile, we want to urge the NOA and NELFUND to disclose the identity of individuals or higher institutions dipping their hands into loans meant for the students.
“Also, the identity of the banks conniving with these identified officials should also be exposed,” the NANS official stated.