NIGERIA — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced its apprehensions regarding the recently signed Student Loan Bill by President Bola Tinubu, cautioning that it could result in numerous students being forced to leave their academic pursuits.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, conveyed these concerns during a press conference on Wednesday. While President Tinubu hailed the legislation as a fulfillment of his campaign pledge, Osodeke argued that the law may have detrimental consequences for millions of aspiring students who rely on tuition-free education to access knowledge.
Highlighting the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, Osodeke emphasized, "In a country where over 133 million individuals live below the poverty line, the introduction of tuition fees would be counterproductive." He further raised a pertinent question: "If the bill stipulates that the loan is intended to cover tuition fees, yet Nigerian universities do not charge tuition, what will be the subsequent course of action?"
Osodeke revealed that the bill is not a new proposal, recounting how the union had previously rejected a similar measure during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, he acknowledged that ASUU has yet to obtain an accurate copy of the law recently signed by Tinubu, stressing the importance of acquiring and studying it before formulating their response.
"Our stance has been clear since 2017, when President Buhari's administration first raised the issue of tuition fees," stated Osodeke. "We firmly conveyed that it would be impractical to demand N1 million from every student, as it is not aligned with our existing agreements, nor can it be used as a negotiation point. Considering the current state of the country, such a proposition would be unworkable."
Osodeke also raised concerns about the potential repercussions, asserting that if a significant number of students, whose families cannot afford the fees, are forced to drop out, it may lead to societal unrest. He warned, "The repercussions would be severe, as disgruntled students would likely retaliate against society. However, we must first obtain accurate information before determining our subsequent course of action."
ASUU's President reiterated the urgent need to comprehend the intricacies of the newly enacted law, emphasizing the necessity of acquiring factual details before charting the union's future steps.
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