Replace proposed loan scheme with grants for indigent students, ASUU tells FG

Replace proposed loan scheme with grants for indigent students, ASUU tells FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the federal government to rescind its decision on the student’s loan scheme and replace it with grants instead.

Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Bauchi Zone, Lazarus Maigoro, who made the appeal on Saturday on the occasion of the award of annual indigent scholarship to 19 University undergraduate in the zone, held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

Maigoro called on well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of indigent students by complementing what ASUU is doing.

“For this year, ASUU Bauchi zone is giving 19 indigent students scholarship apart from the twelve 12 already awarded by ASUU national in the six universities that constitute Bauchi zone,” he said.

“This will further assist more indigent students to be able to acquire university education”.

He expressed delight that the 2023 scholarship was celebrated in Bauchi zone of ASUU.

“ASUU has earmarked the 12 of November every year tagged “Heroes Day” to celebrate members of the union who have made heavy sacrifices while serving the union.

“In fact, some of them like the late Festus Iyayi of university of Benin, David Jangkam of the University of Jos and many others died white on ASUU assignment while others like Prof Suleiman Abubakar of ATBU were recognized as living heroes for their contributions to the union.

“This years (2023) event was celebrated at the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna.
“At the event, the national body of our union awarded the sum of N200, 000 to two indigent students in all the Public universities in Nigeria while branches on their own too awarded scholarships to other indigent students in their various universities apart from that of the national
“It is based on this reason that the entire leadership and the awardees of both the national and the branch recipients of the scholarship award are gathered here to replicate what was done in Kaduna State university during the “”Heroes Day on 12th November, 2023”.

READ ALSO:

• DSS officals arrest Green Africa staff for refusing to board their boss
• Pandemonium as porter kills Edo taxman, self over N50 levy
• Police nab ex-boyfriend of final year law student murdered in her room

He said ASUU was aware of the predicament of the indigent students who are sometimes prevented from writing examinations on the basis of not being able to pay their school fees/charges as the case may be thereby truncating their future.

“It is worthy to note that many students have dropped out of school due to the inability of their parents to pay their school fees or charges,” he lamented.
“This indigent student’s scholarship funded solely by ASUU at the national level or branch level has continued to support students towards the attainment of their educational objectives.

“I can authoritatively say without mincing words that as we teach these students in the classroom, we notice quite a number who are distressed due to the very harsh economic realities of our country.

“It is for this reason that ASUU totally rejects the idea of the student’s loan but students grant instead of loan which should not be paid back.
“The question is, who will pay the loan? What is the fate of those who cannot service it? The psychological trauma the students will be subjected to due to the loan while still on studies will affect their performance negatively.

“The thought that they will graduate with a loan of four million naira and above without the capacity to pay back is another psychological torture on them.
“Furthermore, those who cannot access the loan due to the stringent conditions attached virtually means dropping out of school.

“Currently, in view of the hike in school fees or charges in public universities all over the country, many students have not been able to resume”.

Replace proposed loan scheme with grants for indigent students, ASUU tells FG