ASUU calls on the govt to substitute the proposed loan scheme with grants to support students in need

The federal government has been urged by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reverse its decision on the student loan programme and substitute grants in its place.

Lazarus Maigoro, the ASUU Bauchi Zone’s zonal coordinator, made the call on Saturday during the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi ceremony that honoured 19 undergraduate students in the zone with annual destitute scholarships.

Maigoro urged well-intentioned Nigerians to support ASUU’s efforts on behalf of impoverished students.

He stated, “In addition to the twelve scholarships already granted by ASUU national in the six universities that make up Bauchi zone, ASUU Bauchi zone is giving 19 indigent students scholarships this year.”

“This will help even more underprivileged students pursue higher education.”

He expressed his happiness that the ASUU Bauchi zone hosted the 2023 scholarship ceremony.

Every year on November 12th, ASUU observes “Heroes Day” to honour union members who have given their all while serving the organisation.

Several individuals, including the late Festus Iyayi of the University of Benin, David Jangkam of the University of Jos, and several others, passed away due to their ASUU assignments, while others, such as Prof. Suleiman Abubakar of ATBU, were honoured as living heroes for their services to the union.

“The occasion for 2023 was commemorated at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Union in Kaduna.

“At the ceremony, our union’s national body gave two impoverished kids scholarships totaling N200,000 to attend any of Nigeria’s public colleges, and its chapters separately gave scholarships to other impoverished students to attend different universities in addition to the national

“This is the rationale behind the entire leadership team and the scholarship recipients from both the national and branch levels coming together to emulate the actions taken at Kaduna State University on November 12, 2023, on Heroes Day.”

He noted that ASUU was aware of the situation facing impoverished students, who are occasionally stopped from taking exams due to their inability to pay for school fees or other charges, thus ending their future.

“It is important to acknowledge that a significant number of students have left school because their parents were unable to cover the cost of their education,” he bemoaned.

“Students have continued to get support in achieving their educational goals through the scholarship for impoverished students, which is entirely supported by ASUU at the national or branch level.

“I can state with confidence and without holding back that, as we work with these youngsters in the classroom, we see a good number of them that are struggling because of the really difficult economic conditions in our nation.

For this reason, ASUU completely opposes the concept of student loans, although grants are given in place of loans that aren’t meant to be repaid.

“Who will cover the debt balance is the question? What happens to people who are unable to pay for it? The psychological distress the students would experience as a result of the loan while they are still enrolled in classes will have a detrimental effect on their performance.

“Another psychological torment for them is the idea that they will graduate with a loan of four million naira or more and not be able to repay it.

Furthermore, failing to meet the strict requirements tied to the loan effectively amounts to dropping out of school for individuals who are unable to receive it.

“Many students have not been able to resume as of yet due to the increase in school fees or charges in public universities across the nation.”