Coalition of Northern Groups Lobbies NELFUND Coverage Expansion
The coalition of Northern groups students wing (CNG-SW) as vanguard of the Federal Government Students Loan Scheme, haven participated actively in sensitizing the students, parents and the general public about the Student Loan Scheme (Bill and Act) as well as sensitization and mobilization of students to apply for the loan; have critically studied and analysed the released of disbursement statistics by National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) across tertiary institutions in the Northern region.
In a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Hassan Adamu, the coverage expansion for the zone is to enable students from the zone farewell in their academic pursuit
From the disbursement statistics over eighty-two thousand nine hundred and fifty-one (82,951) students across Forty-Five (45) institutions benefited from the region. It is imperative to clarify that out of the Two-Hundred and thirty-four (234) Federal and State tertiary institutions cleared by NELFUND for the first Phase only Ninety-six (96) were from the north; with Fifty-one (51) tertiary institutions yet to receive disbursement. Beneficiaries have been receiving their up-keep allowance.
Issue Arising from Disbursement
While some institutions have refunded tuition fees paid by beneficiaries before disbursement to them, some are refunding certain percentage others are yet to commence the refund. Some beneficiaries have variation on the amount of loans disbursed to them and the amount payable as school fees leaving. The delay in disbursement and tuition fees payment pressure by Tertiary institution on beneficiaries.
Our Concerns
There is a deliberate attempt to narrow the NELFUND coverage in the Northern region as the total number of Federal and State tertiary institution in the region is more than 96. In Zamfara state for instance only four (4) out of the Ten (10) public tertiary institution were covered Sokoto only 4, Kano only (4). 13 and so on. Priority was also given to federal institutions with few state-owned institution
Tertiary institutions taking advantage of the Student Loan Scheme to increase tuition fees for the 2024/2025 session, will abuse the scheme. The hike of tuition fees with the current economic reality will be a catastrophe to students and the scheme will be perceived as another form of extortion.
The delay in refund can give unpatriotic public servants room to embezzle the money. It is needless to remind us how snake and other animals were swallowing money years ago.
The pressure of tuition fees payment deadline usually issued by many tertiary institutions have led to the withdrawal of indigent students, missing of academic activities such as examinations in some cases leading to poor academic performance or total forfeiture of their academic pursuit which has led to the increase number of drop out in northern institutions to up to 60 percent.
Recommendations
1. We call on NELFUND to expand their coverage as the total number of Federal and State tertiary institution in the region are more than 96 institutions. This is to ensure access for all students.
2. NELFUND should ensure early disbursement to institutions to avoid pressure on beneficiary by management.
3. Tertiary institutions are advised to refund beneficiaries their tuition fees in full. In a situation were by institution wishes to refund on instalment/percentage, reasons should be communicated to the beneficiaries
4. Tertiary institutions should drop any agenda of increment of tuition fees; as the CNG-SW will not tolerate hike in tuition at this material time.
5. Tertiary should also desist from setting deadline for beneficiaries to pay off their tuition fees, since NELFUND has made commitment and commence disbursement.
6. Beneficiaries are advice to focus on their studies and spend their up keep wisely.
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