Following the absence of students from tertiary institutions in the list of beneficiaries in the ongoing disbursement of loans by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the South-East Caucus of the National Assembly has expressed alarm over the development.
In a statement jointly signed by the leader of the South-East Senate Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and his House of Representatives counterpart, Rt Hon Enwo Igariwey, the federal lawmakers said that whatever caused the apparent self-exclusion should be rectified.
They said that the “glaring absence” of beneficiaries from South East tertiary institutions in the list of beneficiaries of the students’ loan being disbursed on behalf of the Federal Government by NELFUND, has given them cause for concern hence their intervention.
“Wth a total of N2,946,927,155 already disbursed to 27,667 from 19 institutions in the country, South East higher institutions were conspicuously missing from the list,” the Caucus said.
In defending the non-inclusion of Institutions from South-East, NELFUND had stated that even though verification lists were sent to all schools, South East institutions were yet to respond to the request for verification of the lists sent to them.
“Consequently, the South East caucus of the National Assembly, wishes to urge tertiary institutions in the South East to comply with the verification request by NELFUND, so that our children can benefit from this national programme,” the statement said.
“We also wish to encourage all South East students who need this support to ensure they apply. This is important as it can help ameliorate some of the challenges limiting access to higher education, which we must all agree is critical to self-development and growth”.
The South East National Assembly Caucus stressed the need for the people and institutions in the zone to be always alert and take advantages of any programme rolled out by the federal government for the common good of all Nigerians.
“It is important that as a people, we do not intentionally marginalise ourselves from opportunities which are open to all Nigerians. Those opportunities are our right and we must, like others, demand for what rightfully belongs to us,” the Caucus said.
Meanwhile, NELFUND has confirmed receipt of N50 billion from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) as part of its contribution to fund the students loan agency.
The money from the anti-graft agency was part of the loots it recovered from people arraigned for corrupt practices, mostly involving looting of public funds.
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