The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has voiced its disapproval of the proposed educational loan program, cautioning that it could potentially trap students in endless indebtedness. This stance was articulated following ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting at the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State.
ASUU expressed dismay over the purported unfulfilled pledges of the Bola Tinubu-led administration to address the persistent issues that precipitated the union’s nationwide strike from February to October 2022. The union underscored the recurring pattern of successive Nigerian governments merely paying lip service to agreements inked with the union, thereby necessitating industrial action to assert their rights.
Despite numerous accords, including the disbursement of Earned Academic Allowance and the fruitless renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, among others, the government has yet to uphold its end of the bargain.
ASUU vehemently opposed the Student Loan Scheme, which it alleged is being advocated by international lending entities such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The union posited that this scheme could deprive public universities of crucial funding while diverting public resources into private universities owned by politically influential individuals and their affiliates.
The union underscored that the implementation of the student loan scheme could lead to the encumbrance of the entire university system, ensnaring promising students in a cycle of perpetual indebtedness. ASUU cautioned against the detrimental ramifications of such a scheme, which it believes could erode the accessibility and quality of education in Nigeria.
ASUU called for augmented investment in public universities and the fulfillment of past agreements between the government and the union to address the myriad challenges confronting the education sector. The union emphasized the imperative of prioritizing the well-being and advancement of students and educators to ensure the sustainability and advancement of the nation’s educational framework.
In conclusion, ASUU reiterated its steadfast commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of its members and the Nigerian education sector at large. The union urged the government to engage in substantive dialogue and undertake tangible measures to redress the longstanding issues afflicting the university system and the broader education sector in Nigeria.
