The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, over its directive requiring students unable to pay tuition fees to defer their studies, describing the policy as anti-student and insensitive.
In a statement issued by its National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, NANS argued that many of the affected students are beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and are only awaiting the disbursement of their approved tuition loans.
The student body faulted the university’s decision to prevent students from registering for academic activities or sitting examinations due to outstanding fees, insisting that the institution should exercise patience pending the release of NELFUND payments.
According to NANS, the university’s management had directed students who could not pay their fees to formally defer their semester or academic session, warning that failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of both the semester and the entire academic year, as well as restrictions on registration for the next academic session.
Describing the policy as “cruel” and contrary to the principles of accessible education, NANS said the directive undermines the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to higher education through the NELFUND scheme introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It is inhumane for the university to deny students the opportunity to write their examinations despite the assurance that NELFUND will disburse the approved tuition fees,” the association said.
NANS also noted that many institutions have been slow to refund students who paid their fees before receiving NELFUND disbursements, adding that the association had previously intervened to ensure affected students received refunds.
The association claimed that more than 5,000 students have been affected by the university’s decision, warning that the policy amounts to a direct attack on students’ right to education.
It urged the Vice-Chancellor to immediately reverse the directive and allow all affected students to complete their registration and participate in their examinations.
NANS further warned that if the university fails to comply, it will mobilise nationwide action, including relocating its National Secretariat to the Federal University, Wukari, to resist what it described as anti-student policies until the rights of the affected students are restored.
The association maintained that no student should be denied access to education because of delays in the disbursement of approved NELFUND loans.
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