NANS Threatens Showdown With Institutions Diverting NELFUND

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set up a task force to monitor the level of compliance of the management of higher institutions in Nigeria with the objectives of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which his administration signed into law in April 2024.

NANS said setting up the taskforce to sanction any erring staff of the higher institutions in Nigeria becomes exigent given the alleged diversions of the fund for some personal use, as exposed by a report from the National Orientation Agency (NOA). NANS National Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Comrade Akinbodunse Felicia, who addressed a press conference yesterday Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital stated that NANS’ position was premised on a report by the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) which revealed that the management of some higher institutions are conspiring with banks to short-change the students.

She said NELFUND must not be allowed to be rubbish by officials in charge of loan disbursement in higher institutions, stressing that, “Mr President must not hesitate to wield the big stick on any higher institution found tampering with loans meant to help the students”.

However, the NANS National Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, urged NOA and NELFUND to disclose the identity of individuals or higher institutions taking out student loans.

Akinbodunse also charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and other Related Offences (ICPC) with beaming their searchlights on unscrupulous tertiary institutions suspected of corrupt practices.

“Also, banks found to be conniving with officials of higher institutions to shortchange students should be adequately sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others,” she said.