The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, is calling for the amendment of the Student Loan Act.
It should be noted that President Bola Tinubu signed the student loan bill into law in June.
This bill, sponsored by former House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, aims to address the financial challenges that young Nigerians face in accessing higher-quality education.
During the legislative summit on student loans and access to higher education organized by the House ad hoc committee in Abuja on Thursday, NANS President Usman Barambu emphasized the need to have student representation on the board.
Moreover, Barambu called for the inclusion of polytechnics and colleges of education alongside the National University Commission (NUC) on the board, as initially proposed.
“Student loans are intended for us, yet there is no student representation on the board. The board only focuses on NUC, neglecting polytechnics and colleges of education. This is unfair and inequitable,” said Barambu.
“Many students will struggle financially two years after graduation, so the payment period should be extended to four to five years,” he added.
“Additionally, cases of death should be considered for loan forgiveness,” Barambu concluded.