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Absence of permanent secretary stalls investigative hearing on proposed students loan

The House of Representatives on Thursday summoned the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Andrew Adejo to brief lawmakers on steps taken to implement the Students Loans Act.

Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee investigating the implementation of the Student Loans Act, Hon. Terseer Ugbor who issued the notice in Abuja, expressed dismay over the Permanent Secretary’s disregard to the Parliament’s invitation sent to him three weeks ago.

Ugbor said the outcome of the interface with the ministry and other stakeholders would equip the committee with adequate information on the proposed summit scheduled for 24th August 2023.

He said: “We know that under the leadership of our current President, the commitments and the passion they have shown for the issues that have to do with the education sector and they expect to see from the Federal Ministry of Education.

“And we are providing another opportunity to come back again, hopefully, this time with more details of what needs to be done, and proposed amendments you are suggesting for this Students Loan Act so that we can facilitate for you and on behalf of Nigerians.

“So with that being said, the committee will go ahead and fix a date for the Summit that we are proposing and will begin to work towards convening the Summit where all stakeholders in the country will be invited to make proposals and amendments to the Act,” Ugbor said.

In his remarks, Director of Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Education, Enonebi Azorbo explained the Ministry will harness all powers at its disposal to lift the barriers towards the smooth implementation of the Students Loans Act.

“I will like to say that upon the passage of the Act, Mr. President set up a committee, it is housed in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and they are working on modalities on the implementation.

“The Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Director-General of the Budget Office, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (are members).

“The Act puts limitations on accessing these loans, the Act puts barriers and limits to accessing the loans by parents of the children who should access the loan limit of N500,000 income for families,” Azorbo said.

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