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President Bola Tinubu pledged on Wednesday to address significant educational concerns, including the rise in tuition fees in public educational institutions across Nigeria. During a meeting with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, he assured the students of his dedication to tackling their issues.
NANS President Lucky Emonefe shared details of the private conversation with the President to the media, stating, “So we’re conveying the message back to our students that Mr. President will look into the challenges they are facing in various higher institutions and those higher institutions that are increasing school fees will put an end to it.
“So it is the challenge that Nigerian students are facing, we believe that the school fees hike will be a thing of the past.”
However, regarding the student loan program’s delay, the President has assured that it will begin in the upcoming two weeks.
Meanwhile, Omonefe previously shared information about the planned launch on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
He said, “On the issue of the student loan, the little delay was the expansion. Mr. President expanded it for the inclusion of some vocational training, which is highly commendable.
“In one or two weeks from now, the launching of the student loan will begin; that is, as for the student loan, all steps have been put in place to commence it immediately, and Mr President will launch that. He has equally promised to include students in the process.
“On the issue of the hardship that we’re facing, Mr President didn’t give a specific time, but he said things will turn around soon and students will start feeling it. I think that was the response,”.
The student group also had a meeting with Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, who guaranteed the association that the government is prepared to prevent any potential industrial strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities members.
He said, “There may be another looming ASUU strike, and we are trying to address that, we are looking at issues that concern ASUU, the impending strike and I believe we should be able to avert that as you have said earlier, we can always do our best to avert strikes such as this, luckily we have a President who is more than anybody determined that the days of strike are over and left behind. We are hoping to be able to avert the strikes”.
During their visit on Wednesday, Omonefe mentioned that their primary goal was to express gratitude for the implementation of the student loan scheme. Additionally, they acknowledged the release of funds for UBEC and TETFund, which are aimed at improving educational infrastructure for students.
