There are growing concerns and discontent over alleged unethical practices in tertiary institutions regarding the student loan. Allegations are rife that while funds are disbursed to institutions, school management allegedly deny receipt while compelling students to remit other payments. Such funds are now kept in interest-yielding accounts for personal benefits of members of the management. While the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) ab initio had stressed the importance of transparency in its affairs, abusing the funds meant for indigent students is deemed an injustice. In a show of solidarity, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened a mass protest over the matter, while calling for probe, DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports.
The news regarding alleged unethical practices after the disbursement of the student loans is quite discomfiting and saddening. Reason? The majority of students see the Student Loan Scheme administered by the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund(NELFUND) as saving grace.
However, when reports filtered in about how institutions allegedly deny receipt while compelling students to remit other payments as they keep the funds in interest-yielding accounts for personal benefits of members of management, not a few persons raised eyebrows.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), through its community orientation and mobilisation officers (COMO), had alleged that some schools are suspected of conspiring with banks to unfairly swindle students who are beneficiaries of the loan scheme.
NOA’s Deputy Director of Communications and Media, Paul Odenyi, noted that several institutions and banks had been implicated in fraudulent activities that prevented students from accessing the funds meant for them.
This was revealed during a high-level meeting between the NOA Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, last weekend in Abuja.
According to Issa-Onilu, preliminary findings showed that some institutions, in connivance with banks, intentionally delayed payments to students for dubious financial gain. He also revealed that some universities failed to acknowledge loan disbursements made by NELFUND, while demanding fees directly from students.
Sawyerr expressed the agency’s readiness to take legal action against any erring institution or individual. While they have emphasised the need for a thorough investigation, observers and stakeholders want the two main anti-corruption agencies the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to bring them to book.
Don: Perpetrators should be named and shamed
The Vice Chancellor African School of Economics, Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, said the matter should not be swept under the carpet. He sought the naming and shaming of perpetrators after thorough investigation.
He said: “These are serious allegations that smack of institutional dishonesty and lack of integrity. I think this should not be swept under the carpet. The allegations should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators named and shamed. Any head of institution (vice chancellor, rector or provost) and those who connived with him/her to perpetrate that fraud should bear the names of their parents and they should face the music of their indiscretion.
“It shouldn’t be business as usual and government should be decisive in exposing and punishing such characters. The unethical attitude as alleged is condemnable, unwholesome and unacceptable.
“I think three measures should be taken. First is to constitute a National Fact-finding Committee to determine the veracity or otherwise of the allegations through engagements with beneficiary institutions. The second is to name the officials involved after a prima facie case of culpability has been established against them. The third is to serve justice to the perpetrators in order to serve as a deterrent to others.
“When all is said and done, the money should be redirected to serve its original purpose without any delay with no student made to suffer because of it.”
CONUA: it’s a deliberate attempt to subvert noble scheme
The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) described the situation as disheartening, adding that while the government wants to improve equity and access to education, some academic managers are reportedly undermining these efforts for personal gain.
Its President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, said the union finds it disappointing that the government has yet to publicly name and shame the institutions and individuals involved, stressing that in a country where impunity continues to undermine national development, exposure of wrongdoing serves as both a deterrent to potential offenders and a necessary punishment for those already complicit.
Sunmonu said: “As a union that has been at the forefront of supporting the student loan initiative from its conceptualisation through to its final execution, CONUA sees these alleged unethical practices as a deliberate attempt to subvert a noble scheme designed to promote access to higher education and ease the financial burden on struggling students and their families. It is disheartening that while the government is attempting to improve equity and access in education, some academic managers are reportedly undermining these efforts for personal gain.
“CONUA holds the strong view that these allegations must not be swept under the carpet. We find it disappointing that the government has yet to publicly name and shame the institutions and individuals involved. In a country where impunity continues to undermine national development, exposure of wrongdoing serves as both a deterrent to potential offenders and a necessary punishment for those already complicit.
“More disheartening, however, is the fact that such acts are being perpetrated within the walls of our higher institutions. These are spaces that should represent integrity, character-building, and national service. The notion that academic administrators, those charged with shaping the minds and morals of future leaders, are allegedly involved in financial misconduct is an indictment on the state of ethics in our institutions.
“To address this issue effectively before it spirals out of control, the Federal Government should launch a transparent and independent probe into these allegations, involving anti-corruption agencies and relevant regulatory bodies.
“Institutions found culpable must be publicly named, and individuals involved must face administrative and legal consequences.
“A monitoring framework should be introduced, involving neutral parties, including academic unions like CONUA, to track the disbursement and utilization of student loans.
“ Students must be educated on their rights regarding the loan scheme and protected from financial extortion.
“There is an urgent need for a moral reawakening in our institutions. Ethics, transparency, and accountability must return to the heart of academic leadership.
“CONUA remains committed to promoting integrity, equity and justice in the university system. We stand with students and the Nigerian public in demanding accountability. It is only through principled actions that we can reclaim the credibility of our educational institutions and ensure the success of any intervention, including the student loan scheme.”
The psychological implications on students
For lecturer/Clinical Psychologist and Deputy Dean, Students Affairs, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Dr. Fisayo Adebimpe, it could negatively impact the students leading to anxiety problems, panic attacks, somatic symptoms, nightmares, night terror s, palpitations, inability to concentrate and pay attention fully on their academics.
She said: “ The psychological implications could be on the indigent students who come from a financially disadvantaged background. These could lead to anxiety problems, panic attacks, somatic symptoms, nightmares, night terror s, palpitations, inability to concentrate and pay attention fully on their academics. The fear of being a drop out becomes so overwhelming which is seen as a threat or burden to them. Some are not happy when they miss/skip classes, not been able to write their cumulative assessments and examinations.
“Most students find it difficult to pay their school fees. The economic hardships has also shown to have significantly impact in the inability of parents or guardians in providing basic need and sponsoring their children.
“The financial situation of these students could deter them from actualizing their dreams. There are limited resources available to support their academic pursuits. Making it difficult for them to pay for their tuition fees, learning materials, and other essential academic expenses. These students are found to be committed to their education. They struggle in order not to be withdrawn from school. They sort for scholarships, part-time work and rely mostly on free learning resources.
“Their parents and guardians results in taking loans from various sources to settle the needs of their children. There are pressure on both sides, the parents/guardians and students due to stipulated time frame for closing of the school portal for school payments/tuitions. The fear and apprehension faced can increase the anxiety level of these students and some are likely to be depressed.”
NAPTAN: dismiss those found culpable
Deputy National President National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria(NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo called for a dismissal of erring officials after thorough investigation.
He decried the situation whereby they further compound the misery of the indigent students who need the loans
“Those universities and their officials are corrupting NELFUND funds with such acts. But proper investigation should be done and apart from naming those involved, they should be sacked, dismissed from the system because they are compounding the misery of students who need the funds for their education,” he said.
NANS poised for mass protest
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for a probe into the alleged diversion of students’ loans by some tertiary institutions.
The NANS National Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, spoke at a briefing. The body threatened to embark on a mass protest to demand action against culpable institutions today, April 24.
NANS urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a monitoring team to ensure the funds reached the beneficiaries.
She said: “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.
“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.
“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,” she said.
