The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to remove vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts who are allegedly mishandling the student loan scheme introduced by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). NANS National President Olushola Ladoja made this demand during a recent press briefing in Abuja, where he expressed concern that such mismanagement could derail President Bola Tinubu’s vision for inclusive access to education through the scheme.
Ladoja revealed that NELFUND has scheduled a meeting with all Students’ Union Government (SUG) presidents and NANS executives in Abuja on Thursday to address complaints over the handling of student loans. These issues include allegations of unjustified deductions, double collection of institutional fees, and failure to refund paid fees to beneficiaries. There are also claims of some banks conspiring to withhold disbursements for profit, further complicating the situation.
The NANS president praised the student loan initiative for reducing school dropout rates and providing students from low-income backgrounds with better access to education. However, he emphasised that some institutions’ mismanagement of the scheme undermines these gains.
Ladoja assured that NANS would continue working closely with the Ministry of Education and NELFUND to address students’ concerns. He clarified that any vice-chancellor or institution found guilty of withholding loan funds or engaging in corrupt practices would face NANS’s complete opposition, including calls for their removal from office.
The call for accountability arises from recent reports from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which highlighted that some institutions had failed to notify students about loan disbursements while still requiring tuition payments. NELFUND has also accused certain schools of withholding crucial information from students, adding to the growing concerns over transparency and fairness in the scheme.
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