NANS Urges Senate to Include Study Grants in Student Loan Bill for Enhanced Access to Higher Education

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the inclusion of study grants in the bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (Nelfund) before the Senate.

The call was made during a public hearing on the repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 Students Loans Access to Higher Education Bill, organized by the Senate Committee on Education and TETFUND and the House of Representatives’ Committee on Student Loan, Scholarship, and Higher Education Financing.

NANS President, Lucky Emonele, commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the education sector and for including the student leadership on the loan board.

He also praised the decision to repeal the Act to address gray areas that could hinder the success of the Students’ Loan Scheme.

Emonele emphasized the need for the provision of grants for students, which would enable them to complete or further their studies.

He argued that this would encourage more students to enroll in school and alleviate the burden that may be placed on the loans.

The NANS President also proposed a minimum of five years for the loan repayment duration, given the challenges of unemployment after graduation, and suggested that public tertiary institutions be prohibited from increasing school fees for the next 10 years to ensure the sustainability of the Act when enacted.

In response, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, commended President Tinubu for his passion and commitment to the education sector.

He said the public hearing would provide an opportunity to make further input to improve the Bill for the good of Nigerian students.

Senator Muntari Dandutse, the Chairman of the Committee, described access to quality higher education as a pressing concern for many Nigerian students and stressed that the student loan scheme offers hope for addressing issues of students and ultimately improving Nigeria’s tertiary education.

He emphasized that successful implementation of the scheme would unlock a brighter future for the youths and the entire nation.

The public hearing saw participation from various stakeholders, including officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).