Connect with us

Education

House of Representatives propose three per cent hike to meet demand for student loan

Published

1 year ago

on

House of Reps
Spread the love

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Students Loan Fund and Access to Higher Education on Tuesday said it was proposing an increase of three per cent, up from the initial one per cent for students loan from revenue generated in the country annually as recently announced by the Federal Government.

The Chairman of the committee, Terseer Ugboh, made the revelation at a public hearing in Abuja to determine the level of progress made by the presidential committee constituted to remove all impediments hindering access to the loan fund.

The chairman, while addressing the Federal Ministry of Education and the Implementation Committee pledged the readiness of lawmakers to assist in the smooth take-off of the scheme.

“We hope the system you are creating will be robust enough to take account of students who are already in school who want the loan to cover for the one year or two years of their schooling or students who are coming through direct entry.

“It seems to us from this perspective that one per cent of the Federal Government Revenue as stated in the act would not be enough to cover students loans for a year given the hundreds of thousands of students that we have getting admission every year and those who are currently in school who may wish to also apply for a loan to cover for other years of their schooling.

“I want to suggest that there is a need to increase the requirement from one per cent to three per cent. Then propose that and we are ever willing to look at it. It is something that is quite critical.

“This is the area that the Ministry of Education can also hold on for it to jerk up to at least three per cent of this revenue.

“Now we are hearing that the states or local governments may or may not permit that deduction, so, I think there may be a Constitutional amendment before that one per cent may be drawn. So if that is not done, the Federal Government can only draw from its own share of revenue which means state universities may be excluded if the State Governments do not agree to participate in funding this student loan from their allocation from the Federal Government.

“The issue of transparency is very key to a scheme like this. One of the reasons why (sic) many previous schemes failed was the issue of transparency and commitment to executing these schemes. You want to create a system that is technologically enabled so that issue of godfatherism will be out.

“The National Assembly is the arm of government that does appropriation and you mentioned that with the current Act as it is. You suggested that there could be a supplementary budget so that this scheme can start up.

“But we can’t propose a supplementary budget if we don’t have an idea of what you think this student loans scheme will cost Nigeria,” he stated.

The Director of Legal Services of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kofo Alada, who spoke on behalf of the Technical Committee said a supplementary budget was necessary for the take-off of the scheme, even as he assured that his team had set a target earlier than November this year.

He said: “We are technical people working and the kind of process flow that we are looking at is something that Nigeria will be proud of.

“What I will request or recommend to this Committee is that of the funding requirement of this project, this body has the power to convene and say we want to give a supplementary budget for this particular project. It is within your power and it is better to plan for this.

“With what has been done by you, and the 9th National Assembly, what we should do is that let’s look at how we can work together. That’s why we are presenting this amendment to you. I am requesting the committee that rather than giving us stillbirth, be the vehicle that will give the lift for implementation.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejoh assured that the scheme would kick-off in the 2023/2024 academic session which may begin in October or December this year.

“The assurances I give to you are based on what I see. First is that no academic session in Nigeria is starting before September. Remember, because of the strike,  apart from private and some state universities, the academic calendar has been moved back.

“So what we are saying now is, it might not be a 100 per cent catchment but the loan is going to start in the 2023/2024 academic session. It can be October, it can be November depending on the school. Between October and November, we still stand a good chance.

“Once the technical committee finishes and comes to the main committee, then we will revert to the National Assembly with the clean bill. I know we can start this loan in the 2023/2024 academic session,” he said.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Education

UNIZIK Lecturer loses life during a tragic atta3k by U G M In Anambra

Published

4 days ago

on

December 18, 2024

By

Spread the love

 

A senior lecturer with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Dr. Osita Chinedu has been k+lled by a gang of g¥nmen.

Dr. Chinedu who hails from Nteje in Oyi local government area of Anambra State, according to an eyewitness, was sh+t dead around the High Tension area in Awka by h+odlums who trailed him to the area at about 8 pm on Monday, December 16, 2024.

The eyewitness stated that the lecturer was driving in his Toyota Corolla when the h+odlums, who were also driving in another Toyota Corolla blocked his car, jumped out of their car and went straight for him.

The source said that immediately the lecturer came out from his car to query the reason for the blockage, one of the assailants pulled out a g¥n, and fired twice, sh+ttering his head.

“Those thieves went into his car, ran the car over him before driving away with his Toyota Corolla and their own too,” the eyewitness narrated.

According to Leadership, while those people were putting the remains of the lecturer in the boot of their vehicle, a team of policemen from the Central Police Station (CPS), Awka, arrived.

The police insisted that the remains of the late lecturer be handed over to them, but his people appealed to the police to leave the body of the sl+in lecturer for them.

Spokesperson of the Anambra police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga in a statement appealed to the management of the institution, eyewitnesses and any other member of the public who might have any information that could help to arrest the k+llers to assist with information.

“The murderers made away with his car, a Toyota Corolla 2006 model, Ash colour with an Enugu Plate number, UWN 158 AS.

 

Continue Reading

Education

Delta wins $400,000 Bill and Melinda Gates primary health award

Published

1 week ago

on

December 13, 2024

By

Spread the love

 

Delta State Government Thursday received $400,000 (four hundred thousand United States dollars) from the Primary Healthcare Leadership challenge organized by the Nigerian Governors forum in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for outstanding performance in primary health care management.

The award, which was organized by the Nigerian Governors Forum NGF, Federal Ministry of Health. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF was in recognition of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s initiative in the health sector for the past one year in line with the MORE agenda of his administration.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima and chairman of the Governors Forum, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, who is also Governor of Kwara State, were present during the handover of the prize and money to Delta State officials.

Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme and Director General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr Isaac Akpoveta were on ground to receive the award on behalf of Governor Oborevwori.

The award, started in 2019, was to shore up performance at the primary health care level so as to make health more accessible to people at the grassroots.

It is the first time since the inception of the awards that Delta will be considered for mention in any category of recognition. It has never won any prize money.

Speaking after collecting the award on behalf of Governor Oborevwori, Dr Onojaeme said that the award was proof that the administration’s MORE agenda was on course and yielding positive results.

He disclosed that Governor Oborevwori’s determination and commitment to revamp the health sector was not in doubt, adding that the recent approval for the renovation of over 150 primary health care centers (PHCs) must have been pivotal to receiving the award.

Delta State was considered for award after a visit of the technical committee set up to assess the state of PHCs in all 36 states and Abuja, the Federal Capital.

 


The committee comprised of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, World Health Organisation (WHO), World Bank, United Nations Food Programme (UNFPA), among others.

Continue Reading

Education

NYSC DG Leads Search For Missing Corps Member

Published

1 week ago

on

December 13, 2024

By

Spread the love

 

Ekwutosblog has gathered that Director-General of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, has called for collective efforts in the search for Yahaya Farouk, a corps member, who went missing in Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The NYSC chief, during his visit to the community, yesterday, urged residents, including youths and elders, to support security agencies in locating the missing corps member.

Ahmed also inspected the scene of the incident and emphasized the shared responsibility of host communities to ensure the safety and welfare of corps members serving in their domains.

He reiterated his administration’s dedication to advocate better security measures for all NYSC participants across the country.

He said: “The essence of my coming is to appeal to assist us in getting the corps member, who came for national service from another state.

“My administration will continue to appeal for adequate security and welfare of Corps members at all times. It is also the responsibility of residents of Corps members’ host communities to provide security and welfare package for corps members serving in their domain.”

At a meeting held during the visit, the Youth President, Etete Jerb Anthony, and the Ward Secretary, Paul Friday, disclosed that the community had made significant efforts to locate Farouk, who disappeared while at a Chinese mining company within the area.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue search and rescue operations.

Kindly follow Ekwutosblog for verified News and Current Affairs in addition to insightful contents that inform, inspire, educate and entertain you always.

Continue Reading

Trending