Students’ loan scheme ploy to put beneficiaries in perpetual debt – ASUU

University lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have described the proposed students’ loan scheme of the federal government as a ploy to keep beneficiaries in perpetual debt after graduation.

They also argued that the scheme, being pushed by international money lending agencies like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank would deprive public universities of funds, adding that it would be marred by corruption in a country like Nigeria.

Daily Trust earlier reported how the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appealed to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to rise in defence of the Students’ Loan Fund policy, insisting that it was meant to ensure no student irrespective of their circumstances was deprived of quality education.

Earlier in January, President Bola Tinubu directed the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expand the interest-free loans to accommodate Nigerian students interested in skills development programmes.

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But appearing unsatisfied, the lecturers, at their union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, reiterated their rejection of the scheme, and condemned it in its entirety the wave of fee hike without inputs of the victims across campuses.

Speaking through their President, Emmanuel Osodeke, via a communique, the lecturers said they were surprised by the reports they received on the failed promises of the Tinubu-led administration towards addressing the lingering issues that forced the union to embark on a nationwide strike action from February to October, 2022.

Meanwhile, the NANS has called on ASUU to cease opposition to the students’ loan scheme of the federal government.

President of the Senate, NANS HQ, Sen. Akinteye Afeez Babatunde, expressed concerns over the purported opposition of ASUU to the scheme, urging the union to reconsider its stance.

The students urged ASUU to cease its opposition to the Student Loan Programme and to refrain from speaking on behalf of students without their consent.