The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the management of Federal University Wukari. Taraba State, over its directive requiring students unable to pay tuition fees to defer their academic session, described the policy as anti-student, insensitive and contrary to the principles of accessible education.

 

The student body also demanded the immediate reversal of the policy, warning that it would resist any attempt to deny students, particularly beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the opportunity to register and sit for their examinations.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National President, Babatunde Afeez Akinteye , NANS faulted the university’s position that students who fail to pay their fees or obtain formal approval for deferment would forfeit both the semester and the academic session.

 

The association also criticised the university’s decision to bar students who defer without approval or are absent without authorised deferment from registering for the next academic session.

 

NANS argued that the directive undermines the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to higher education through the NELFUND initiative introduced by President Bola Tinubu.

 

According to the association, many of the affected students have already applied for education loans under the scheme and the university would eventually receive the tuition payments once the funds are disbursed.

 

“It is inhumane for the Vice-Chancellor and the management of the institution to deny students the opportunity to write their examinations despite the assurance that NELFUND will disburse the funds in due course,” the statement read.

 

The association further noted that many institutions have delayed refunding students who paid their tuition before receiving NELFUND disbursements, adding that several universities only began processing refunds after sustained pressure from NANS.

 

It claimed that more than 5,000 students have been affected by the Federal University Wukari policy, describing the development as a direct attack on Nigerian students and a negation of the objectives of the Federal Government’s education financing initiative.

 

NANS maintained that no eligible student should be denied access to examinations because of delays associated with the loan scheme.

 

It warned that if the affected students are not allowed to complete their registration and participate in the examinations, the association would mobilise to resist the exercise.

 

“Our position is clear. If these students are not allowed to complete their registration and sit for their examinations, then the examinations should not proceed for anyone,” the association stated.

 

The student body called on the university’s management to immediately reverse the policy and allow all affected students to register and write their examinations.

 

It also threatened to relocate its National Secretariat to the institution if the directive is not withdrawn, insisting that it would continue to oppose policies it considers detrimental to the welfare and educational interests of Nigerian students.