ASUU Calabar zone criticizes federal government’s student loan initiative

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Calabar Zone has voiced strong objections to the Federal Government’s newly launched student loan program, labelling it a scheme to entrap Nigerian students in perpetual debt.

This ASUU student loan criticism highlights deep concerns over the potential long-term impacts on students and the overall education system.

The student loan initiative, which opened its application portal last Friday, saw a significant response with 3,764 applications from 126 institutions on the first day, as reported by The PUNCH. The Federal Government asserts that the loan is designed to ensure that no Nigerian youth is denied higher education due to financial constraints.

However, Dr. Happiness Uduk, the Zonal Chairperson of ASUU, condemned the initiative at a press conference in Uyo on Monday. Uduk argued that the loan program was an underhanded strategy to financially burden students.

“It is disheartening that individuals who benefited from scholarships, meal subsidies, and bursary awards are now promoting student loans,” Uduk remarked. She emphasized that those who enjoyed free or highly subsidized education are now imposing financial burdens on current students, whose children often study abroad on scholarships.

Uduk, supported by eight union chairpersons, suggested that instead of loans, the Federal Government should increase subventions to higher institutions to foster a positive transformation in tertiary education.

“We vehemently condemn the idea of education loans,” Uduk stated. “Using funds to support higher institutions directly will lead to self-reliant universities and more affordable tertiary education.”

ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has also criticized the loan scheme, advocating for bursaries instead.

The ASUU Calabar Zone called on the Federal Government to renegotiate with the ASUU leadership and the Prof. Nimi Briggs-led committee to update agreements in line with current economic realities. This, they argue, would ensure a fair salary structure for university lecturers.

Additionally, Uduk decried the rapid and underfunded proliferation of universities in Nigeria. She highlighted the 2020 ASUU-FGN Memorandum of Action, which calls for a review of the NUC Act to control the excessive establishment of universities.

“We urge the President Tinubu-led administration to stop creating new universities and instead strengthen existing ones to better address Nigeria’s challenges,” Uduk added.

On the ongoing minimum wage negotiations, the ASUU Calabar Zone urged the Federal Government to employ collective bargaining to address the declining socio-economic conditions in Nigeria.