*Urges One-Time N500,000 Payment to Students, Not Piecemeal NELFUND Stipends
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The Law Students’ Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), the umbrella national body of law students in the country, has written to the Federal Government, calling for a complete overhaul of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) process, citing numerous flaws and a lack of integrity in the current system.
In a strongly worded letter signed by the National President, Anyiam Christian Kelechukwu, LAWSAN expressed dismay and sadness over the hardship and lack of integrity associated with the NELFUND application process, which began on Monday.
The association, known for its vibrancy and critical thinking, stated that it has received numerous complaints from students across various disciplines in Nigeria about NELFUND.
While commending the Federal Government’s loan initiative as laudable, LAWSAN suggested that it would have been better as a grant rather than a loan. The association also condemned the “lazy website” used for the application, which subjected students to untold hardship, with many spending an entire day trying unsuccessfully to complete the process.
LAWSAN further criticized the government’s decision to pay school fees directly to institutions and provide a “meagre stipend” of N20,000 monthly to students.
“What can twenty thousand naira do for an average Nigerian student in a month? Can it buy textbooks, sort feeding, print materials or even take care of accommodation?” the letter questioned, describing the decision as “laughable and very disgraceful for our education system and democracy.”
The association proposed that the Federal Government should have paid the proposed N500,000 directly to successful applicants, allowing them to address their problems comprehensively. It also raised concerns about students who had already borrowed to pay their fees, potentially leading to double payments and double jeopardy.
“The whole process lacks integrity and does not give faith to an average Nigerian student,” the letter stated. “It seems to be an attempt to mock the poor and less privileged Nigerian students with a badly planned loan process and stipends that go to no issue. We can do better in this country.”
While appreciating the Federal Government’s initiative, LAWSAN called for a total reshuffle and overhaul of the NELFUND loan apparatus, including updating the website and employing young Nigerian tech experts. Additionally, the association demanded that both school fees and stipends be paid directly to successful students’ accounts in a lump sum, rather than divided stipends, allowing students to pay their fees and utilize the funds meaningfully.
“There’s no point in giving peanuts to students and expecting them to use it to climb a mountain. We can’t continue like this,” the letter concluded.
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