The South East caucus of the National Assembly called on tertiary institutions in the South East to urgently comply with the verification request sent to them by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to enable eligible students in the zone benefit from the scheme.
Leader of the South East Senate Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo made the call in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The statement was titled: “Re: Non-inclusion of Beneficiaries from South East Tertiary Institutions in the Disbursement of Students’ Loans by NELFUND.”
According to the caucus, the non-compliance with the verification requests was tantamount to self-marginalization by institutions in the region.
The statement reads in part: “The attention of the South East caucus of the National Assembly has been drawn to the glaring absence of beneficiaries from South East tertiary institutions in the list of beneficiaries of the students’ loan being disbursed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“In its defence, NELFUND has stated that the absence of beneficiaries from South East institutions was because even though verification lists have been sent to all schools, South East institutions are yet to respond to their request for the verification of the lists sent to them.
“It’s important to clarify that geopolitical zones are not a factor in the disbursement process.
“NELFUND sent a verification list to every institution eligible for disbursement. Payments are being made to institutions that have responded to this verification.
“Unfortunately, we have not yet received any response from the institutions in the South-East. We urge these institutions to complete the verification process so that their students can benefit from the scheme.
“Consequently, the South East caucus of the National Assembly wishes to urge tertiary institutions in the South East to comply with the verification request by NELFUND, so that our children can benefit from this national programme. We also wish to encourage all South East students who need this support to ensure they apply.
“This is important as it can help ameliorate some of the challenges limiting access to higher education, which we must all agree is critical to self-development and growth.
“It is important that as a people, we do not intentionally marginalise ourselves from opportunities that are open to all Nigerians. Those opportunities are our right and we must, like others, demand for what rightfully belongs to us.”
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