The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the sack of heads of tertiary institutions that mismanaged funds meant for the student loan scheme implemented by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
NANS national president, Comrade Olushola Ladoja, made the call at a media parley at the weekend in Abuja.
Ladoja said the actions of some institutions, if left unchecked, may tarnish President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring inclusive access to education through the student loan scheme.
He disclosed that NELFUND would meet with all Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents of Nigerian campuses and NANS national executives in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, the meeting is meant to discuss the implementation of the student laon 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 to make profits off the funds among other abuses.
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 that their complaints would be addressed.
Ladoja said: “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 student loans or having any dubious dealings in this students’ 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 it. And NANS will not accept that. We will fight whosoever is found wanting of such character.”
He expressed regret about media reports of alleged mismanagement in the 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.
Recall that 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 Sawyerr, 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,” he said.
The NANS President condemned these practices, saying they worsen students’ struggles and constitute a breach of trust.