The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA) has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing into law the Students Loan Bill.
MAPAMA described the action as “another courageous decision and positive step being taken by Tinubu within two weeks he assumed office”.
The association equated the latest legislation to the new Electricity Bill the President signed into Law last week. “No doubt, the two new laws, if implemented to the letter, will aid positive revolution in the country’s power industry and avail the educational sector a new face lift,” the association said.
“With respect to the Students Loan law, we commend the President as the gesture is a pointer to fulfillment of his ‘Renewed Hope’ campaign manifesto. This is quite appreciative.
“Most importantly, the law, if properly put into action, will be a big relief to parents and guardians, even to some self-sponsored students, with regards to pains and stress of paying the tuitions in tertiary institutions”.
MAPAMA said it is however concerned about certain provisions of the law, and called for a second look and urgent amendment to them. “For instance, the law reportedly provides that the beneficiaries will be the children, whose parents or guardians’ total annual take home is not more than N500,000 or below!
“The organisation is totally opposed to this, as those who earn far more than the quoted amount also struggle to pay school fees of their children, and the situation becomes more challenging when the parents have two or more wards in the universities”, the statement by MAPAMA’s Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Tajudeen Balogun read.
It continued: “MAPAMA therefore reasons that tying earnings of parents to the requirements, although in few instances may be tenable, still, a very good number of family in Nigeria desire that the scheme should be available to all willing students with the requisite to apply in the first place. We therefore appeal to the government to look seriously into that worrisome aspect of the law.
“On the other hand, MAPAMA urges Nigerians to embrace the law and avoid moves that would frustrate and thwart its success when it eventually takes full effect.
“The organisation also calls on government not to politicize the implementation. The ruling class should be faced with the reality that the policy is one of the ways that many Nigerians and households can benefit from the government. Of course, it’s one of the ways to achieve a national rebirth, build patriotism, commitment and dedication to collective national growth.
“Finally, the Federal Government FG should ensure that all the instruments and institutions to drive the policy are put in place with integrity and love of the country, as well as interest of her teeming future leaders in mind.
“Again, MAPAMA appeals to Nigerians to support the government in ensuring the success of the two new Laws and lofty decisions of the new administration”.
