STRONG reactions have trailed an allegation that no fewer than 51 tertiary institutions are engaged in illegal deductions, double institutional fees collection by beneficiary institutions, and attendant exploitation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student loan scheme.
In a chat with this newspaper Wednesday morning in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, condemned heads of tertiary institutions for engaging in illegal acts of deductions and double fee collections from students benefiting from NELFUND.
Asefon, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), disclosed that he would liaise with student bodies from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education and take up the matter with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
The presidential aide called for the setting up of a monitoring committee made up of students that would monitor disbursements across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
His words: “I must condemn those Vice-Chancellors who have received the payment of disbursements of Student Loan and failed to inform the students and went ahead to collect school fees from those students.
“Some even denying students from writing exam after they have received disbursements from the NELFUND.
“I condemn it in totality and as I speak to you, my office, student leaders across the country including NANS, National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of College of Education Students, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), we are meeting and we are working towards meeting with the Minister of Education. And have a committee to monitor across the six geopolitical zones. As soon as NELFUND is disbursing, students can be immediately informed.
“Before the management of universities even write to NELFUND for receiving the alert, the students would have informed their colleagues that NELFUND has disbursed this amount of money.”
He expressed concern that heads of institutions, who were mostly beneficiaries of free education in their time, are the ones trying to frustrate President Bola Tinubu’s policy of student loan.
“I can assure you, we will soon be calling their names out. And any school found engaging with this kind of act, Nigerian students will not take it easy with them.
“You know Nigerians, we are the problem ourselves. Imagine the President who has this vision, who believes that giving education is just to give life. And for those whose parents are not capable or able to send their children to school, and the President felt there is need for every household to have quality education,” he added.
In reacting to the allegations, the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) described it as untrue, insisting that the amount purportedly paid to the college is under verification by the CBN.
Spokesperson of the school, Adams Adekunle, called on students to exercise patience, as payment would be made in due course.
According to him, “Accounting procedures and processes must be duly followed in every financial transaction; the amount purportedly paid to the College is under verification by the CBN.
“The institutionalized fees as claimed paid is yet to reflect in the account of the College.”
Meanwhile, NELFUND has insisted that it was “neither consulted for this report nor did it provide any data, comment, or contribution to the publication.”
A statement signed by NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the Fund unequivocally disassociates itself from the article.