The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a strong call to the federal and state governments to remove Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of tertiary institutions found culpable in the mismanagement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
This comes amid growing concerns over alleged fraudulent practices by some institutions, including double billing of tuition fees, withholding loan disbursement announcements, and conspiring with banks for personal gain. These accusations, according to NANS, not only sabotage the federal government’s commitment to inclusive education but also inflict hardship on struggling students.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja over the weekend, the newly elected NANS President, Comrade Olushola Ladoja, decried what he described as systemic abuse of the students’ loan initiative. He warned that any head of institution involved in dubious dealings would face nationwide student-led resistance and calls for 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.
The student leader revealed that NANS had already met with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, to table students’ concerns. He added that both officials assured them that necessary action would be taken to address the irregularities.
A critical meeting has been scheduled for Thursday in Abuja, where all Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents from Nigerian tertiary institutions will converge with NANS executives and NELFUND officials to discuss the issues and chart a way forward.
The move follows recent revelations by both NELFUND and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) of widespread malpractice.
According to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, many institutions have continued to demand tuition fees from students despite receiving payments directly from the loan fund.
Further confirming the malpractice, Paul Odenyi, NOA’s Deputy Director of Communications and Media, stated that internal investigations by Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) had corroborated claims that several schools were deliberately withholding information from student beneficiaries.
Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, earlier disclosed that anti-corruption agencies had been notified and are currently investigating institutions suspected of colluding with financial institutions to exploit the student loan system.
Ladoja applauded the student loan initiative, noting that it has significantly reduced dropout rates and increased access to education, particularly for students from underprivileged backgrounds.
However, he warned that unless immediate action is taken to curb mismanagement, the credibility of the scheme and the federal government’s education reforms may be compromised.
NANS pledged to continue monitoring the situation and ensure that the student loan scheme remains transparent, accountable, and beneficial to the students it was designed to support.
