The federal government is no longer able to pay for universities, according to the Ministry of Education.
This was clarified by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Andrew David Adejo, during a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja. He was speaking about the Students Loan Bill, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had signed into law on Monday.
He stated that the president had ordered that the first loan recipients must be accessible for the school year 2023–2024, and that the federal government was figuring out the logistics to start disbursing student loans in September.
“The measure does not result in the introduction of tuition fees; No! Whether we like it or not, government funding for higher education is no longer an option. We engage in private public partnerships because of this.
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When asked if the act would result in the introduction of tuition fees at public colleges, Adejo responded, “The universities already have autonomy; the autonomy they still lack is financial autonomy. They can only respond to that question once they have it, something the administration is attempting to do.
He said that on Tuesday, an inter-ministerial group would be established to streamline the procedure so that students may receive their loans in six weeks.
Without implying what the committee would do, he said, “We don’t want to make something that only public school students would profit from. The Act addresses the objective of ensuring that those who receive the loan pay their tuition.
“For now, private schools are paying tuition so you have to give somebody who is going to private school an opportunity to get and pay tuition.
“What you have been seeing is the bill that was presented and went through final reading at the House of Representatives and before Mr President signs a bill, he looks at it and sends it to relevant ministries and then decides if it is okay and if there are modifications that are necessary.
“Let us wait to see the Act and you will get the Act when it is transmitted to the Ministry of Justice to produce into a gazette.”
“You can’t give someone a loan and say pay tuition without sustaining his school. No. You have to get accommodation, even if tuition fee in public universities is free, you still pay for your accommodation and the federal government would not give you loan that will not make sure you get in school, stay in school and graduate,” he said.
