Lawmaker Explains Exclusion of Private School Students from Student Loan Scheme
According to Gboyega, the fees paid by a single student in a private institution could cover the expenses of multiple students in public schools
AKACHI NOEL 
Isiaka Gboyega, a member of the House of Representatives, shed light on the government's decision to exclude students from private universities and other tertiary institutions from the student loan scheme. Gboyega, who chairs the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Student Loans, cited the high cost of tuition fees in private schools as the rationale behind this exclusion.
According to Gboyega, the fees paid by a single student in a private institution could cover the expenses of multiple students in public schools. President Bola Tinubu recently signed the student loan bill into law, which notably does not extend to students in private institutions.
Section 23 of the Act specifies the eligibility criteria for loan applicants, including being a Nigerian citizen and securing admission into a government-established university, polytechnic, college of education, or licensed vocational or skills acquisition school.
Addressing concerns about the exclusion of private school students, Gboyega emphasized that those with the financial capacity to enroll their children in such institutions would likely have minimal need for the loan scheme. However, he hinted that the fund's coverage might be expanded in the future to include students from private schools.
