As part of his campaign pledge to liberalize the country’s funding of education, President Bola Tinubu has fulfilled one of his commitments by signing the Students Loan Bill into law.
The President’s media team, lead by Dele Alake, a member of the Presidential Strategic Team, revealed this to journalists last evening.
Alake noted that the new legislation is a fulfillment of Tinubu’s election pledge while being joined by other team members, including Tunde Rahman, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, David Adejoh.
He dispelled worries that the law would induce an increase in tuition by arguing that the two circumstances are unconnected.
According to him, the goal of the bill is to make it easier for children who are in need to attend school in the nation.
“We are delighted to inform you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu just signed the Students Loan Bill into law today, just a few minutes ago,” he stated. You all are aware of what it means and implies.
“This is the promise made by the then-candidate for president during the presidential campaign, that he would bring the student debt issue back to the foreground, and today, that promise has been honored.
“He just signed that legislation into law, making it possible for our needy students to use federal loans to pay for their school or profession. In developed regions of the world, this is how it’s done.
The initiative, according to Sunday Asefon, the immediate past president of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), is a godsend that would provide possibilities for students who are orphaned and destitute.
He claimed that the measure gives these individuals the chance to get loans and pursue their educational goals.
Asefon claimed that recent events demonstrate Nigeria’s intention to preserve parity with other nations that have adopted the program.
“We recognized it from his manifesto. But we didn’t anticipate it to happen so quickly. In less than a month since taking office, the President has made Nigerian students happy. The action is appreciated by the children, their parents, and the student leaderships. This measure will make a big difference, he added.
Additionally, Anderson Ezeibe, president of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, stated that before the union could respond, it would need to read the measure.
“Until our staff evaluates it, it will be premature to comment about it. We would be able to make a remark about it after we accomplish that.