The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on federal and state governments to remove heads of tertiary institutions that mismanage the administration of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) students’ loan scheme.
This comes as the agency is set to meet with all Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents of Nigerian campuses and NANS national executives in Abuja this Thursday.
The meeting is meant to discuss the implementation of the scheme and address concerns around alleged deductions by some tertiary institutions, double collection of institutional fees and refusal to refund NELFund beneficiaries, conspiring with banks and withholding disbursement announcements with a view to making profits off the funds among other abuses.
Speaking at a media parley in Abuja at the weekend, the newly-elected NANS National President, Comrade Olushola Ladoja, said the actions of these institutions, if left unchecked, may tarnish President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring inclusive access to education through the student loan scheme.
He lauded the initiative, stressing that it has drastically reduced school dropouts and improved access to education for students from low-income backgrounds.
Ladoja disclosed that his team had earlier met with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa and the Managing Director of NELFund, Akintunde Sawyerr, to register their grievances.
He said both leaders assured them that their complaints would be addressed.
“And I also met with the NELFund MD, and he told us they will also look into it. By this Thursday, the NELFund has invited all the SUG Presidents of Nigerian campuses to have a meeting in Abuja. Let them come with their complaints, and the NANS executive will be there to discuss the problem, the way forward and see how we can resolve it.
“I’m telling you categorically, as NANS President, that any Vice Chancellor, Rector or Provost, found withholding students’ loans or having any dubious dealings in this students’ loan administration, we will agitate for their going. They must be removed from office, because while Federal Government is trying to do things that will help Nigerians, some people are there sabotaging it. And NANS will not accept that. We will fight whosoever is found wanting of such character,” he said.
He expressed regret about media reports of alleged mismanagement in administration of the programme by some heads of institutions and allegations by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) that several institutions have failed to inform students about loan disbursements made on their behalf, while still demanding tuition payments.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, had revealed that anti-corruption agencies have been alerted to investigate certain tertiary institutions suspected of colluding with banks to undermine the student loan scheme.
Also, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) recently raised the alarm over the conduct of some higher education institutions, accusing them of withholding critical information from beneficiaries.
According to Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of NELFund, several institutions have failed to inform students that their tuition fees had already been paid directly to the schools by the loan Fund. Instead, these schools allegedly continued demanding payment from the students, leading to confusion and financial strain.
In a statement issued by Paul Odenyi, NOA’s Deputy Director of Communications and Media, the agency confirmed that its own investigations supported NELFund’s findings.
Odenyi said the irregularities were brought to light through reports filed by Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) operating across the country.
The NANS President condemned these practices, saying they worsen students’ struggles and constitute a breach of trust.
* Media Report