House of Representatives yesterday disagreed over a proposed one-year tuition fee waiver for students in federal tertiary institutions, as Minority Leader Fred Agbedi, challenged the procedure adopted by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

Agbedi faulted Kalu for inviting the House Leader to speak on the proposal after its sponsor had stepped it down, arguing that the action breached the House rules on the arrangement of business.

The disagreement also raised concerns about the relationship between the proposed waiver and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial support to eligible students.

Citing Order 8, Statute 1, Agbedi questioned why the presiding officer invited the House Leader to address an issue that was no longer before the House for debate.

The Minority Leader also argued that the proposal raised questions about the existing NELFUND law, which established a framework for financing students’ education.

He maintained that a motion seeking government payment of tuition fees for all students could conflict with the existing legislation.

He added that the Federal Government could not be asked to pay school fees for all Nigerians through a motion without considering the law already enacted by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

Agbedi further described the decision to invite the House Leader to address the proposal after its withdrawal as inconsistent with the House rules.

However, Kalu rejected the objection and ruled the Minority Leader out of order.

Earlier, the motion’s sponsor, Ahmed, had informed lawmakers that he consulted the House Leader, who addressed some concerns raised about the proposal. He subsequently stepped down the motion.

Kalu then invited Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere to brief the House on NELFUND’s achievements since the scheme began operations.

Ihonvbere disclosed that NELFUND had disbursed N372.6 billion to students and tertiary institutions as of September 29, 2026.

He said the fund had paid N192.9 billion directly to tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees, while students received N79.7 billion in monthly upkeep allowances.

The Majority Leader added that the scheme had received more than 2.3 million applications and covered 319 institutions, with approximately 1.659 million students benefiting.

He urged lawmakers to sensitise their constituents to the programme and encourage eligible students to apply.

According to him, applicants could complete the process online without personal connections or visits to government offices.

The proposed tuition waiver seeks to ease the pressure on Nigerian households following the Federal Government’s economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.

MEANBWHILE, the House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to upgrade the Imo State College of Education, Umuobom, into a federal institution to expand access to teacher education and advance learning in the state.

The bill, sponsored by the member representing Ideato North and Ideato South Federal Constituency, Ikenga Ugochinyere, scaled the second-reading hurdle during plenary, yesterday.

Titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Education, Umuobom, Imo State, and for Related Matters, the proposed legislation seeks to provide a legal framework for the establishment and operation of the institution as a federal college of education.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Ugochinyere said the proposed upgrade would strengthen the institution’s capacity to advance learning, improve teacher training and contribute to the development of the education sector through academic and research programmes.