NANS President Calls for the Amendment of Student Loan Act
The President National Association of Nigerian Students, Comr. Usman Barambu has called on the House of Representatives to amend the student loan act to allow all Nigerian Students who desire loan to have access to them.
This is as they asked the House to include student representation on the board and capture Polytechnics and Colleges of Education on the board instead of only National University Commission (NUC) which was earlier captured.
Speaking at the legislative summit on students loan and access to higher education held by the ad-hoc committee on thursday in Abuja, Barambu said criteria for access to loan in the current act was too stringent adding that the method of payment of 2years was too short but should be reviewed to at least 4 to 5years.
He also called that the list of guarantors to access loans to be looked into, adding that most student will not be able to meet the guarantors requirement.
“Student loan is for us and in the board no student representation on the board. The board only captured NUC sidelining the polytechnic and colleges of education, they should all be inclusive for fairness and equity.
“Also the method of payment should be looked into as most student are not able to find their ground financially two years after graduation, it should be revised to 4 to 5 years . The act also gives no room for forgiveness in cases of death especially for security officers, that should also be looked into.
Also speaking at the summit, the JAMB registrar Professor Is-haq Oloyede who was represented noted that the Students loans represent a turning point in the history of higher education in Nigeria, in the 21st century.
Oloyede tasked the lawmakers on the feasibility of the loan covering other areas.
He stressed the need to review the Act to cover cost of other things beyond school fees as students now pay more for accommodation, feeding and transportation.
Source: Vanguardngr.com
