Student Loan, ASUU’s Scheme To Slaughter Nigerian Students

Babatunji Wusu –

The Federal Government’s new student loan program has drawn heavy criticism from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Calabar Zone, which sees it as a ploy to keep Nigerian students in debt forever.
This divisive position was emphasized on Monday at a press conference in Akwa Ibom State’s capital, Uyo.

ASUU’s zonal chairperson, Dr. Happiness Uduk, voiced the union’s worries, claiming that the loan program is a calculated attempt to “enslave Nigerian youths.”

Following the inauguration of the student loan portal last Friday, which witnessed a flood of applications from 3,764 students from 126 colleges on its first day, this critique has been made.

The loan scheme has been justified by the federal government as a vital step to guarantee that no young Nigerian is denied access to higher education because of financial limitations.

Nonetheless, the leadership of ASUU contends that more direct support measures, rather than loans, are the answer.

Dr. Uduk drew attention to the hypocrisy of present leaders supporting a loan system for the next generation while they themselves were recipients of scholarships and bursaries during their college years.

Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of ASUU, has also been outspoken in his criticism, supporting this point by arguing that the government ought to go back to offering bursaries rather than loans.

In agreement with these views, Dr. Uduk and eight other union chairpersons signed a declaration supporting greater government funding for postsecondary education as an alternative to putting students in debt.