The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, has voiced its opposition to the federal government’s students’ loan scheme, advocating for non-refundable grants for Nigerian students instead.
Lazarus Maig-oro, the ASUU Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, expressed these concerns during a scholarship program for indigent students at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
He emphasized the potential negative impact on students’ performance due to the psychological burden of loans and questioned the feasibility of repayment.
Maigoro highlighted the likelihood of students graduating with substantial debts, causing psychological distress.
He raised concerns about stringent conditions for loan access leading to potential dropouts, especially considering the current increase in public university fees across the country.
ASUU Bauchi Zone is actively collecting data on students at risk of dropping out, aiming to urge the government to reconsider its loan approach and favor grants.
Maigoro underscored the challenging economic realities affecting students and emphasized the government’s apparent neglect of its constitutional duty to fund universities.
Referring to the 2022 ASUU strike, Maigoro lamented the lack of collective support from parents and students, resulting in the present difficulties.
In 2023, ASUU Bauchi Zone is awarding scholarships to 19 indigent students, in addition to the 12 granted by ASUU National in the six universities within the Bauchi zone.
