A member of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) board, Comrade Umar Farouk Lawal, responded to claims made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that President Bola Tinubu ordered an increase in tuition fees for universities in Nigeria. Lawal stated that this claim is false and challenged Atiku to provide proof of any official order from the President regarding tuition fee increases. Lawal emphasized that, as a board member representing students, he can confirm that President Tinubu has not issued any directives to raise fees at federal or state universities. He urged Atiku and university leaders to show any official documents that support the claim. He also defended NELFUND, which helps students by providing financial support for tuition and living expenses, stating that over 1.38 million students have benefited from it. Lawal argued that NELFUND is designed to help students afford education, not just to respond to fee increases. Regarding Atiku's suggestion to review NELFUND, Lawal asked for clarity on what changes would be made and how they would improve the system without harming its sustainability. He noted that decisions about tuition fees are made by individual universities, not the President. Lawal concluded by urging political leaders to base their discussions on education on verified facts and to avoid spreading misinformation that could harm students.
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
