Tax reform bills designed to undermine existing educational institutions- CNG students’ wing

The Coalition of Northern Groups Students Wing (CNG-SW) has described the proposed Tax reform bills as a move to undermine the existing educational institutions, hence the need to withdraw it from the National Assembly is pertinent.

The National Coordinator of the group Hassan Adamu in a statement, said that the Students reject the proposed bill which they also described as being proposed by enemies of the state.

Adamu further noted that the Tax reform bills if passed will have a deteriorating effect on critical Institutions that has support the educational development in the country.

“The Coalition of Northern Groups Students-Wing reject in totality the proposed Tax reform bills that is designed by the enemies of the state to undermine our already paralysed educational sector.

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“As a matter of fact the bill is designed to undermine our existing educational institutions and equally ensure that anything good in the sector becomes a history, which Nigerian students will vehemently resist no matter what.

“We see the Tax reform bills as a deliberate attempt to attack our critical National Institutions that are responsible for basic infrastructure in Tertiary institutions, thereby ensuring that the institutions become a mortuary.

The group called on the federal government to discontinue the reform process and give room for a holistic consultation and amendment before legislation.

“We call on all patriotic legislators and all well meaning Nigerians to study the Bill with a keen interest and ensure justice to our educational institutions and Nigerian students.

In another development, the CNG-SW alleged that there is a deliberate attempt to narrow the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) coverage in the Northern region as the total number of Federal and State tertiary institutions in the region is more than 96.

“ Zamfara state for instance only four (4) out of the Ten (10) public tertiary institutions were covered, Sokoto only 4, Kano only (4). 13 and so on.

“Priority was also given to federal institutions with few state-owned institution tertiary institutions taking advantage of the Student Loan Scheme to increase tuition fees for the 2024/2025 session, will abuse the scheme.

“The hike of tuition fees with the current economic reality will be a catastrophe to students and the scheme will be perceived as another form of extortion.

“The delay in refund can give unpatriotic public servants room to embezzle the money. It is needless to remind us how snake and other animals were swallowing money years ago”, the group said.

The students therefore called on NELFUND to expand their coverage as the total number of Federal and State tertiary institutions in the region are more than 96 institutions.

“NELFUND should ensure early disbursement to institutions to avoid pressure on beneficiaries by management.

“Tertiary institutions are advised to refund beneficiaries their tuition fees in full. In a situation were by institution wishes to refund on instalment/percentage, reasons should be communicated to the beneficiaries

“Tertiary institutions should drop any agenda of increment of tuition fees; as the CNGSW will not tolerate hike in tuition at this material time.”

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE