By Gabriel Ameh
The Social Advocacy Front (SAF) has criticised comments by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over the Federal Government’s student loan programme, describing his position as disappointing and politically driven.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Tahir Ibrahim Tahir, and Secretary, Shehu Attah, the group said Obi’s characterisation of the student loan scheme as “wasteful” undermines an initiative it considers beneficial to thousands of Nigerian students.
SAF defended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), established to implement the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April 2024.
According to the group, the fund provides interest-free loans to students in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, covering tuition and basic upkeep.
Beneficiaries are required to begin repayment only after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and securing employment, with repayments capped at 10 percent of income.
SAF stated that as of now, NELFUND has disbursed ₦155 billion to over 780,000 students across 262 tertiary institutions, while about 1.3 million students have applied nationwide.
The group argued that such figures demonstrate the programme’s growing reach and impact, and urged Obi to seek clarification on the structure and outcomes of the scheme before making further public comments.
Beyond NELFUND, SAF also highlighted ongoing reforms in the education sector, including plans by the Federal Ministry of Education to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes aimed at improving practical skills, employability and entrepreneurship.
The group reaffirmed its support for the student loan initiative and other education-focused reforms, calling for constructive engagement rather than partisan criticism.
Neither Peter Obi nor his representatives had responded publicly to the group’s latest remarks at the time of filing this report.
