As controversy continues to rage over the alleged plan by the Federal Government to replace the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by 2030 through the Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government for clear clarification on the matter.
The student body made this demand on Wednesday in Lagos at its 86th National Senate Sitting and Pre-Convention event held at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
Over 5,000 student leaders from various levels (national, geo-political zones, states, and campuses) across Nigeria attended the event.
Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune at the event, the Senate President of NANS, Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, urged the Federal Government to be transparent about its future plans for TETFUND in the Tax Reform Bills. He emphasized the need to clarify whether the proposed tax reform would negatively affect the agency.
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According to Akinteye, adequate funding of education at all levels is essential for genuine national development, and Nigeria should not be an exception.
“The introduction of NELFUND into Nigeria’s education system to provide student loans is a good and welcome initiative, as it will increase access to education for more Nigerians,” he said. “However, the Federal Government must provide clarity on the fate of TETFUND under the proposed tax reform to dispel the controversy surrounding it.
“To us, NELFUND is a beautiful initiative with a clear mandate, just as TETFUND has its distinct mission.
“Every Nigerian recognizes the importance of TETFUND in our educational institutions. Its projects are evident across campuses. Without TETFUND, we cannot imagine what would have become of our campuses.
The agency’s contributions go beyond infrastructural development to include capacity building, research, and innovative activities. For these reasons, TETFUND must not be tampered with but instead properly funded and managed by competent individuals of integrity to ensure even greater performance.”
On the issue of school fees increment, Akinteye reiterated the students’ opposition, stating unequivocally, “We say no to any further increase in school fees by public institutions in the country.”
He added, “We do not want additional financial burdens on our members. NELFUND loans or any other funding considerations cannot be used to justify fee increments. We have communicated this position to all vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts of colleges of education and are closely monitoring the situation.”
Akinteye also appealed to the Federal Government to monitor the disbursement and utilization of NELFUND loans in schools, ensuring the funds are used for their intended purposes.
“It is not enough to allocate billions of Naira to schools under NELFUND without following up to ensure the funds are utilized appropriately,” he said. “This oversight is crucial to prevent misuse and ensure the initiative benefits Nigerians.”
Earlier in his address, the National President of NANS, Lucky Emonefe, commended Nigerian students for their unwavering support and cooperation with the union’s leadership. He assured them of the association’s commitment to serving their interests.
Emonefe, who also opposed the potential scrapping of TETFUND, highlighted the agency’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s tertiary education system. While advocating for TETFUND’s continuation, he assured students that NANS would continue sensitizing its members to access NELFUND for financial assistance.
He noted, “Students do not need to know anyone to secure a loan from NELFUND. The Fund’s operations are open, fair, and transparent. All that is required is to be a genuine student in need of financial support. We can attest to this because we have representatives on the board.”
During the event, Emonefe presented his administration’s scorecard for the past year and announced that the next national convention, where new leaders will be elected, will be held in Abuja next March.
He also praised the legislative arm of NANS for successfully organizing the event and commended the attendees for their impressive turnout over the three days.
One of the attendees, Samuel Eze, Chairman of the Council of Students’ Union Presidents, Southeast Zone, highlighted the association’s role in fostering national unity among students.
He emphasised NANS’ importance to the student community and commended the Federal Government for amicably resolving the recent vice-chancellorship appointment crisis at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, which had deeply concerned students during the period of unrest.
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