Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
South-East caucus of the National Assembly, has expressed fury over the non-inclusion of students of tertiary institutions from the zone in the students’ loan disbursement by the Federal Government.
The caucus which described the sad development as part of marginalisation of Ndigbo, called on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUN), to quickly address the anomaly.
A statement by the caucus on Sunday said it would not tolerate any attempt to deny students from the zone their rights.
The caucus in the statement by its Leader , Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, urged the Federal Government to quickly address the injustice.
According to the caucus, the excuse adduced by NELFUN for the exclusion of schools from South-East in the loan scheme is flimsy.
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “The attention of the South-East caucus of the National Assembly has been drawn to 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 the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“With 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. In its defence, NELFUND has stated that the absence of beneficiaries from South-East institutions was because even though verification lists have been sent to all schools, South-East institutions are yet to respond to their request for the 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. 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.
“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.”
