President Bola Tinubu took a significant step on Wednesday as he signed the National Students Loan Amendment bill into law during a brief ceremony at the State House.
The event witnessed the attendance of key dignitaries including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Ministers Hannatu Musawa and Ayodele Olawande, as well as the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, among other government officials and presidential aides.
Originally signed into law by Tinubu in June 2023, the bill aims to provide financial assistance to Nigerian students pursuing higher education in tertiary institutions. Despite its earlier enactment, the implementation of the bill encountered delays due to various challenges hindering its rollout.
Speaking afterwards, the president said, “ First of all, I must thank members of the National Assembly for their expeditious handling of this bill considering the children of Nigeria, that education is the tool to fight against poverty effectively.”
“We are determined to ensure that education is given the proper attention necessary for the country including skills development programmes. This is to ensure that no one, no matter how poor their background is, is excluded from quality education and opportunity to build their future.”
“We are here because we are all educated and were helped. In the past, we have seen a lot of our children drop out of college and give up the opportunity. That is no more, the standard and the control is there for you to apply no matter who you are as long as you are a Nigerian citizen.”
The passage of the National Students Loan Amendment bill into law followed thorough deliberations and considerations by the respective committees of the National Assembly on tertiary institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
