The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government to sack heads of tertiary institutions found to have mismanaged the student loan scheme implemented by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
NANS National President Olushola Ladoja said this while addressing reporters at the weekend in Abuja.
Ladoja said the actions of some heads of tertiary institutions, if left unchecked, could stymie President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive access to education through the student loan scheme.
The NANS president announced that NELFUND would meet with all Students’ Union Government (SUG) presidents across Nigerian campuses and his association’s national executives on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the meeting is meant to discuss the implementation of the student loan scheme and address concerns over alleged deductions by some tertiary institutions, double collection of institutional fees and refusal to refund paid fees to NELFUND beneficiaries.
Ladoja also said the meeting would discuss alleged conspiracy among some banks and withholding disbursement announcements in order to make profits off the funds, among other abuses.
The union leader lauded the initiative, saying it has drastically reduced school dropouts and improved access to education among students from low-income backgrounds.
He announced that his team had met with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, to table their grievances.
According to him, both leaders have assured that the students’ complaints would be addressed.
Ladoja said: “I also met with the NELFUND MD and he told us they will 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. 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 student loans or having any dubious dealings in this student loan administration, we will agitate for their removal.
“They must be removed from office because while the Federal Government is trying to do things that will help Nigerians, some people are sabotaging the efforts. NANS will not accept that. We will fight whosoever is found wanting.”
The NANS president regretted alleged mismanagement of the scheme by some heads of tertiary institutions and allegations by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) that several institutions failed to inform students about loan disbursements made on their behalf and still demanded tuition payments.
NOA’s Director General Lanre Issa-Onilu recently said anti-corruption agencies had been directed to investigate some tertiary institutions suspected to have colluded with banks to undermine the student loan scheme.
Also, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) recently accused some tertiary institutions for allegedly withholding critical information from beneficiaries.
Sawyerr said several institutions failed to inform students that the fund had paid their tuition fees to their schools.
“Instead, these schools allegedly continued demanding payment from the students, leading to confusion and financial strain,” he said.
Ladoja condemned such practices, saying they worsen students’ plight and constitute a breach of trust.