The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Calabar Zone, has condemned the Federal Government’s planned Student Education Loan, calling it a ploy to enslave Nigerian students and keep them in debt to the country forever.
Dr. Happiness Uduk, Zonal Chairperson of ASUU, spoke at a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday. She expressed disappointment that those who received scholarships, meal subsidies, and bursary awards were responsible for some of the obnoxious policies. She emphasised that the union will continue to oppose such policies.
Uduk, in a statement signed by the eight union Chairpersons, argued that rather than providing loans for students’ education, the FG might utilise the funds for interventions in higher education.
She noted that such a move would result in a positive turn of events, making the institutions self-sufficient with heavily subsidised tertiary education in the country.
Uduk said “It is disheartening that people who attended schools on scholarship, enjoyed meal subsidies, free laundry services and bursary awards are the same running our economy today. Their Children are on scholarships in the best foreign universities in the world but after siphoning our economy, they turn around to impose a strangulating Education Loan on taxpayers’ children so that they will be enslaved and remain indebted to the country forever.
“They do not mind the devastating effect of this scheme on the country such as depression, suicide, and colossal loss of intellectuals.
“To this end, we vehemently condemn the idea of Education Loans and state clearly that using the money for intervention in higher Institutions will bring about a positive turn-around of events that will make our institutions self-reliant with highly subsidized tertiary education in Nigeria.”