Why Nigerians in private schools are exempted from students’ loan scheme – House of Reps

• He, however, stated that the scheme could be expanded in the future to cover students in the private schools

The Nigerian lower legislative body, House of Representatives, has said Nigerians attending private universities won’t benefit from the student loan scheme.

Isiaka Gboyega, the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Student Loans, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing newsmen.

He said the scheme didn’t cover private tertiary institutions because of the high cost of school fees in those schools.

Gboyega explained that the school fees of a student in private school could pay the fees of many in public school.

It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu signed the student loan bill on Wednesday, which excludes private school students.

“An applicant for a loan under this Act must – be a citizen of Nigeria;

“Have secured admission into any university, polytechnic, college of education established by the Federal Government or State Government, or a vocational or skills acquisition school licensed by the Federal Government,” section 23 of the Act reads.

Speaking on the exclusion of the private schools, Mr Gboyega said “For anyone that has the capacity to send his/her children to where—some of those private schools, you would agree with me that the need for a loan of this scheme is probably minimal.”

He, however, stated that the scheme could be expanded in the future to cover students in the private schools.