The Academic Staff Union of University has condemned the federal government’s proposed student loan for Nigerian students. Bauchi State Coordinator of ASUU, Associate Professor Lazarus Maigoro, stated this on the occasion of the award of scholarships to 19 indigent undergraduates in the zone at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
Maigoro said that the limited number of students who could access the loan and how to pay back can cause psychological trauma and impede on the students’ academic performance.
He said that the Bauchi zone of ASUU was working on getting the statistics of students who might possibly drop out of school at the end of the current session, in the hope of making the government review its decision on the issue of grants instead of the loans.
Also speaking, Chairman of ASUU, ATBU branch, Comrade Ibrahim Inuwa, stated that the union would continue to act as a socially responsible organization by championing a cause for the collective interest of higher institutions.
He added that for recognition and award the scholarship, which was an annual event would always target brilliant but indigent students.
