Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The House of Representatives has began a summit on how to make Student Loans more accessible to the Nigerian public.
The Student Loan Act, 2023, sponsored by the then Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023.
It dictates the legal framework for the grant of loans to low-income Nigerians to promote a more equitable access to higher education. However, it has been criticised for having too stringent requirements to access the loan.
This and other issues, according to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who represented the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, led to the convergence of stakeholders in the education sector in a summit organised by the adhoc committee set up by the House.
The stakeholders and experts are to review the Act and make necessary amendments.
Hon. Kalu noted that the legislature plays a crucial role in ensuring access to quality education by enacting laws and policies that govern education, allocating resources, and ensuring the implementation of these policies. He added that the Student Loan Act is one of such ways to create an enabling environment for quality education and ensuring that the right to education is upheld in the country.
“This is quite critical given that education is considered a fundamental right in Nigeria. The legislature as custodians and defenders of citizens’ rights play an essential role in safeguarding this right,” he stated.
The Deputy Speaker reiterated that the summit is proof of the legislative’s commitment to creating equitable access to quality education while urging the stakeholders to cooperate with the committee and proffer suggestions that can help improve the Act.
