KEY POINTS
- The National Association of Nigerian Students plans intensive demonstrations because they believe that tertiary institutions steal student loan funds.
- NANS requests President Tinubu to create a monitoring system that tracks student loan funds to their recipients.
- NANS requests the EFCC, ICPC alongside NOA to investigate corrupt practices in order to expose the perpetrators involved.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leadership wants authorities to investigate student loan diversion among certain tertiary institutions.
Students have given the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) authority to lead mass demonstrations on April 24 to pursue institutions that divert student funding.
The National Vice President of NANS Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs Comrade Felicia Akinbodunse announced at a Thursday meeting in Abeokuta that the organization would rally against educational institutions participating in the financial scandal.
NANS threatens mass protest as they call for investigation and monitoring
NANS National President has established a backup zonal leadership that will ensure broad student organization across the nation. On April 24 students from every regional zone plan to demonstrate their purpose to have President Bola Tinubu see their allegations regarding misused student loan funds.
The students want President Bola Tinubu to establish a tracking system for monitoring student loan funds until they successfully reach their designated recipients according to Akinbodunse.
She warned about the corruption at Nigerian tertiary facilities which threatened the performance of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) program to support higher education.
NANS urges atrong action and accountability
Akinbodunse stressed that as a priority project of the current government NELFUND must be protected against misuse by the officials disbursing the loans. The organization recommended the president to immediately execute disciplinary measures against colleges that altered student loans.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) conducted new investigations which demonstrated official personnel handling student funds were altering the distribution process. NANS declares its position to actively oppose practices of corruption which threaten student futures.
Call for comprehensive probe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) need to conduct a full investigation regarding reported fund diversion according to NANS. The organization looks for institutions to receive proper consequences when proven responsible for improper loan handling. At the same time it demands banks to face appropriate repercussions for their part in such misconduct.
Akinbodunse requested that the NOA and NELFUND should publicize the names of both staff members and educational institutions involved in student loan diversion. The student body required both banks and the identified officials to reveal the collusion and receive appropriate sanctions. NANS threatens mass protest due to this act of corruption.
