The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed displeasure over its exclusion from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) stakeholders’ meeting initially scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025.
The eagerly anticipated meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, with NELFUND), heads of 51 tertiary institutions accused of misappropriating student loan disbursements was postponed, yesterday, and a new date to be announced soon.
Although no reason was given for the postponement, the minister, yesterday, attended the 2025 International Conference on Smart Education and Digital Literacy in Abuja.
A source confided in The Guardian that the postponement was likely due to scheduling conflicts, and that “the meeting will be rescheduled once the minister’s engagements are cleared, with stakeholders expecting a productive discussion on addressing the alleged misappropriation issues.”
In a statement jointly signed by NANS Zonal Coordinators, the students’ association demanded that the meeting be put on hold until proper consultation with the NANS leadership at the national level.
The statement reads: “NANS is the umbrella body of all Nigerian students, both at home and in the Diaspora, and the most virile, organised and recognised student advocacy group in Nigeria. It is on this strength that the Forum of Zonal Coordinators, comprising leadership from Zone A (North-West), Zone B (North-East), Zone C (North Central), Zone D (South-West), Zone E (South-East) and Zone F (South-South), issues this collective statement to address a disturbing procedural oversight by NELFUND.
“While we do not oppose the idea of engaging directly with Students’ Union Presidents (indeed we welcome initiatives aimed at enlightening and empowering student leaders), we are greatly concerned that due protocol and respect for structure have been completely ignored in this process.”
NANS, as the apex body and legitimate representative of all Nigerian students, including SUG presidents, is constitutionally positioned to coordinate and facilitate such interactions. The failure of NELFUND to formally notify or engage NANS leadership before circulating this invitation is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent.”
The students’ body, therefore, demanded that the meeting be put on hold until proper consultation with the NANS leadership at the national, zonal, and state levels is carried out.
It added: “Anything short of this will be viewed as a calculated attempt to sideline the legitimate student leadership and weaken the organised representation of Nigerian students.
“We remain available for meaningful dialogue and collaboration, but let it be on a foundation of mutual respect, proper structure, and the recognition of NANS as the voice of over 40 million Nigerian students.”
