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EKO HOT BLOG reports that following the growing concerns that tertiary institutions might increase their tuition fees on the heels of the recently passed students loan act, the House of Representatives has warned against such move.
The House also resolved to convene a legislative summit on students loans and access to higher education with all stakeholders in the education sector.
This resolution followed the consideration of a motion moved at the plenary by Terseer Ugbor, member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State.
Presenting the motion, Ugbor said that the aim of the act was to enable students borrow to fund their education, away from the traditional parental provision.
He said: “The use of Students Loans and Educational Credit Schemes in most countries of the world is often justified on the grounds that it guarantees greater access to higher education for the less privileged citizens and is further predicated on the notion that education is an investment in human capital which in turn promote individual development, economic growth and national productivity.
“After several years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to introduce students loans, scholarships and other educational credit schemes, the 9th National Assembly passed the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2023 which was recently signed into law by the President to provide the legal and institutional framework for implementation of a Students Loan Scheme in the country.
“While the objectives and intendment of the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023 are patriotic and would impact positive access to higher education in Nigeria especially amongst the underprivileged citizens, there are several critical omissions and identifiable bottlenecks that would stultify or frustrate the successful implementation of the Act if immediate further legislative action is not taken to ensure its efficient implementation.
“The intendment of the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023 is highly commendable and its enactment has been well received by a large segment of the general public, particularly the Nigerian youths, the identified and observable lapses have the potential to frustrate its smooth implementation for the overall benefit of Nigerian students.
“The urgent need to convene a legislative summit with all key stakeholders to develop a strategy to ensure the smooth implementation of the Act for the benefit of the indigent Nigerian Students”.
The motion when put to voice vote received the support of the majority of the lawmakers.
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