President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of the Access to Tertiary Education Act, otherwise known as the Student Loan Act, may turn out to be a booby-trap for many young Nigerians aspiring to acquire tertiary education, stakeholders in the education sector have warned.

They argue that the signing of the bill into law was hasty, lacked proper deliberations, and ran contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that specified that all public institutions in Nigeria are tuition-free.

Recall the Nigerian government has earlier explained that the Act is aimed at providing interest-free loans to Nigerians seeking higher education.

Part of the conditions set out in the Act limits beneficiaries to children or wards of parents whose annual income is not more than N500,000 (less than $1,000).

Another condition also restricts the loan to payment of tuition fees which, as of now, is non-existent across many tertiary institutions owned by the federal government.

Also, it stated that the loan, proposed to take off in September, is expected to be repaid two years after completion of the National Youth Service.

In his reaction to the Act, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, described the introduction of the Student Loan Act as an action that could put on hold the aspirations of many young Nigerians that are dependent on public institutions to acquire tertiary education.

Acknowledging that the union is yet to have access to the accurate copy of the law signed by President Tinubu, the ASUU President, in a press interview, said it could be a ploy to introduce tuition that is non-existent in public federal universities as the government might come up with another Act that will formally introduce tuition fee, saying the move is not new as the union had raised strong objection to it when it was introduced by former President Muhammad Buhari.

He said: “A country where more than 133 million are living below the poverty line and you want to introduce tuition fees? It will be counterproductive.

“Every Nigerian should know what is going to happen next and there may likely be another bill waiting for signatures that will introduce tuition fees.

“If the bill indicated that the loan is to pay tuition fees and there are no tuition fees in Nigerian universities, then what is your next approach?”

Corroborating the position of ASUU on the Act, Olusiji Sowande, the National Treasurer of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who spoke during a panelist discussion, affirmed the position of the union on the matter, noting that if it is welcomed by Nigerians the union would wait for its consequences.

While educating Nigerians on what many considered as tuition paid in public schools, Sowande reiterated that no public university in Nigeria pays tuition, and that what students pay are sundry charges such as medical fees, identification card charge, hostel accommodation fees where it is available, and so on.

The umbrella body of students of tertiary institutions at home and abroad, the National Association Of Nigerian Students-Diaspora (NANSD) has been full of commendations to the administration of President Ahmed Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to students.

NANS-D in a reaction sent to Sunday Independent lauded the gesture of the administration in a statement titled: “NANS Diaspora Appreciate President Tinubu Over Students Friendly Policy”.

It said: “The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students -Diaspora (NANS-D), led by Comrade Abdulrazak Abdulrahman Abubakar, deeply appreciates Mr. President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for your commitment towards the Nigerian Students Community. The signing of the student loan bill marks the beginning of a new dawn for Nigerian students.”

Abubakar appealed to the President to extend the loan facility to Nigerian students in Diaspora, saying they are not living in paradise.

His words: “Mr. President, the Nigerian students in the Diaspora hope that the new educational system would also cover the Nigerian students in the Diaspora because, in the real sense, the Nigerian Students in Diaspora are not living in paradise.

“For instance, one of the challenges that we are confronted with is the challenge of tuition funds remittance through form A.

“Form A is a medium through which foreign students access foreign exchange at the official rate rather than sourcing extra finances in other to get the same from the parallel market on order to settle all their academic bills and expenses.

“The unbearable hiccups, therefore, remain the challenge of responsiveness and delay from the Nigerian banks in remitting the funds to the student’s respective institutions and accounts.

“It is because of these that we join forces with our sister association in Nigeria NANS to suggest Form M as an alternative solution to solve the Form A issues as a viable solution to the challenge of funds remittance to the student’s international accounts and institutions.

“With this stride, our hope is renewed that we have a government that cares for Nigerian Students. Once again, we say thank you, Mr. President.”

In the same vein, Akinteye Babatunde, the National Vice President, External Affairs, of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) applauded the bill but raised objections to the likelihood of the introduction of tuition or current fees paid by students.

Admitting that the Act, if committedly implemented, would benefit “many students in this country that are struggling because of fees,” Akinteye warned that the student body would not accept any move by the government to increase existing fees in universities.

Unions Envisage Commercialisation Of Education

In his opposition to the government-imposed Act, Abdussobur Salaam, the National Vice President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), expressed worries that the Student Loan Act was being forced on Nigerians without “due consultations”, adding that it may lead to additional burden on students and parents and open fresh opportunities for corruption.

He said the requirements to access the loans, as highlighted in the Act, would make it difficult for Nigerians to benefit and that those who may benefit are also threatened to begin payment two years after graduation.

“We need to review this Act before accepting it with open arms. But as far as I am concerned, it is a recipe for disaster,” Salaam said.

Sponsor Defends Bill

Kunle Somoye, former Special Assistant to the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (sponsor of the bill), in his presentation on a Twitter panel, said the law was a product of a demanding process that he noted involved the convocation of an education summit by the parliament.

He said apart from the summit and the public hearing conducted ahead of the passage of the bill, the lawmaker also ensured that fees currently charged by various public tertiary institutions across the country were considered and the average measured before setting the rules.

He said: “We moved around the country and prepared memos on fees obtainable across the country in various schools. We didn’t stop at that; consultations were made.

“All these efforts were geared towards ending the perennial strikes by workers in our tertiary institutions.

“It is common knowledge that the former speaker and now the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu is a lover of education and has always been at the forefront of any efforts towards ameliorating the pains of students and their parents.

“So, I strongly believe that the law can be improved, but you can agree with me that the intent and purpose behind it are noble.”

Reacting to the Act, National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Soweto, who was opposed to what he called ‘Greek Gift’ assured Nigerians that the rights group would convene a public briefing on the development in the coming days.

“Proponents of this law argue that Nigeria doesn’t have enough resources to fund education, so they introduced the loan. Nigeria has the resources to fund education; we only need to stop the waste by the political class,” he said.

A concerned parent with two children in the university, Mr. Ajani Popoola, frowned at the placement of additional burdens on parents and guardians and appealed to the federal government not to use the Act as a ploy to remove subsidies on education in the country.

He said: “We are still struggling with the removal of subsidy on petrol, increasing cost of living, an astronomical rise in food prices and accommodation, high cost of transportation and vehicle maintenance and the impending commercialization of the education sector.

“We cannot afford private university education. If the Loan Act is well-intentioned so be it.

“Otherwise, the government should allow the status quo to remain without using the Act as a sledgehammer that will take education away from the masses.”

He added that the commercialization of tertiary education will not augur well for the country and appealed to the government to go beyond the good work of TETFund by voting more money for the sector. (Sunday Independent)

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