NANS demands 100% increase in student loan upkeep

FG excludes varsities, research grants from TSA

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to increase the student loan upkeep from N20,000 to N40,000 per student to cushion the impact of the rising cost of living on students.

However, the Federal Government has directed the exclusion of third-party research grants of federal universities and research institutions from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, at a briefing in Abuja, yesterday, said the increase in student loan upkeep would provide the much-needed financial relief to students struggling to make ends meet.

At the briefing, NANS expressed deep concern over the current economic hardship caused by the increase in fuel price, foreign exchange instability and the skyrocketing cost of food, which left many Nigerians, including students, grappling with severe economic challenges.

While acknowledging that reforms of the Bola Tinubu administration were being implemented for the greater good of citizens, NANS called for phased implementation to allow Nigerians to breathe.

“We urge the President to consider the plight of ordinary Nigerians as these reforms take shape. We respectfully ask that these policies be rolled out in phases, to give citizens the breathing space to adapt and survive,” said Emonefe.

The association also resolved to send a 10-man committee to interface with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to address fuel scarcity and the recent fuel price hike.

The 10-man committee will represent all structures of NANS and will work to highlight possible solutions to address the economic challenges.

In addition to the phased rollout of reforms, the students’ body called for more visible benefits amid the hardship and advocated the dismissal of non-performing ministers.

“Many ministries have been passive, indifferent and silent, failing to communicate their plans or progress to the Nigerian people. It is time for a more dynamic and accountable government,” NANS stressed. “In addition, we urge the government to prioritise the reduction of excessive government spending. At a time Nigerians are being asked to make sacrifices, it is only fair that those in power lead by example.”

NANS maintained that dialogue remains its primary approach to addressing the grievances of Nigerian students and citizens.

THE government’s directive is contained in a letter signed by the Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, to Vice Chancellors, dated September 6, 2024, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.

According to him, the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, has conveyed the President’s directive to the Coordinating Minister of Finance and National Economy, Wale Edun, mandating the exemption.

Maiyaki said the directive also allowed grant universities and research institutions the autonomy to operate their endowment fund accounts in commercial banks.

He said the move was expected to enhance the financial autonomy of universities and research institutions, promoting research and innovation in the country.

“The NUC received the directive from the Minister of Education, Ref. DE/HE/37/VII/324 and dated Sept. 4, 2024.

“Forwarding the correspondence from the Principal Secretary to the President, State House, also vide PRES/87/MF/71/198/MBEP/15 and dated July 23, 2024, on the above subject,” he added.