NANS to FG: Sack VCs, rectors found mismanaged student loan scheme

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a strong call for the removal of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts from tertiary institutions found culpable in the mismanagement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.

This demand arises from mounting concerns about alleged fraudulent practices by some institutions, which include double billing of tuition fees, withholding loan disbursement announcements, and colluding with banks for personal gain.

NANS argues that these actions not only undermine the federal government’s commitment to inclusive education but also exacerbate the difficulties faced by struggling students.

In a media parley held in Abuja over the weekend, the newly elected NANS President, Comrade Olushola Ladoja, expressed his disapproval of what he termed a systematic abuse of the students’ loan initiative.

He issued a stern warning that any head of institution involved in dubious dealings would face significant student-led resistance and calls for their removal.

“I’m telling you categorically, as NANS President, that any Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost found withholding students’ loans or engaging in any dubious dealings in the administration of the student loan scheme, we will agitate for their removal.

NANS will not accept such betrayal. We will fight whosoever is found wanting,” Ladoja declared.

Ladoja revealed that NANS had already engaged with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, to present students’ concerns.

Both officials assured them that appropriate measures would be taken to address the irregularities.

A critical meeting has been set for Thursday in Abuja, bringing together all Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents from Nigerian tertiary institutions, NANS executives, and NELFUND officials to discuss the issues and identify a path forward.

This follows recent disclosures from NELFUND and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) regarding widespread malpractice within many institutions.

Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND’s Managing Director, confirmed that numerous institutions continue to demand tuition fees from students despite having received payments directly from the loan fund. Paul Odenyi, Deputy Director of Communications and Media at NOA, supported these claims, stating that investigations by Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) have verified reports of several schools deliberately withholding information from student beneficiaries.

Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, revealed that anti-corruption agencies have already been notified and are currently probing institutions suspected of colluding with financial bodies to exploit the student loan system.

While Ladoja praised the student loan initiative for significantly reducing dropout rates and increasing educational access for students from underprivileged backgrounds, he cautioned that failure to address mismanagement could jeopardize the credibility of the scheme and the federal government’s education reforms.

NANS has committed to closely monitoring the situation, ensuring that the student loan scheme remains transparent, accountable, and truly beneficial for the students it was designed to support.

Source: DAILY POST