Why Students of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Are Not Eligible To Receive Student Loan

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has shed more light on why students of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) are not eligible for the student loan.

This, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) said, is due to their inability to possess Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Number a major requirements before accessing the student loan.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr said this while addressing journalists in Abuja.

According to reports by The Guardian Newspaper although National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is listed as the 29th school among the one hundred and twenty six federal higher institutions to benefit from the student loan on the student loan website, they would not be among the 1,200,000 beneficiaries of the first phase of the student loan for not meeting this criteria.

Recall that the The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr had also disclosed that sixty thousand students had registered for the student loan in one week, out of which thirty thousand -representing 50% – successfully applied for the student loan.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr said the agency has very strict criteria and guidelines and would not bend the rules for any institution or individual, no matter how highly placed.

According to The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Fund would ensure due diligence, “protect taxpayers money and protect the Fund from frivolously handing out money without being able to account for it”.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr said: “We have strict criteria and guidelines around how people can access this loan opportunity. All of them are non-negotiable. JAMB (number) is non-negotiable using this application process. Unfortunately, if an applicant has not got a JAMB number, and has not gone through the JAMB application process it is going to be impossible to grant that individual a student loan at this stage.

“So, I urge those who can, to go and regularise their status with JAMB so that it makes it easy for them to access this opportunity. This is an equal opportunities programme. It does not seek to discriminate against anybody. But it does seek to protect taxpayers’ money and protect the Fund from frivolously handing out money without being able to account for it.

“We have an obligation to that. This money is held in trust by NELFUND and administered by the Management. And we must do everything we can to protect it. Even if it means, unfortunately, some people won’t have access to it immediately”.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, therefore, urged those affected to contact the examination body and regularise their status.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr listed other mandatory requirements by applicants to include: name of institution of study, admission number, date of birth, National Identity Number (NIN) as well as Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/why-noun-students-are-not-eligible-for-students-loan-nelfund/

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Student Loan Policies Transforming Nigeria’s Educational Landscape

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies on student loan have been a focal point of his administration’s efforts to improve access to higher education and empower Nigerian students. By implementing innovative strategies and initiatives, his government has aimed to address the financial barriers that often hinder students from pursuing their academic aspirations. This feature story will delve into the impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan policies on Nigerian students and the educational sector as a whole.

It could be recalled that in June 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed a bill to start a Students Loan Fund that would give interest-free loans to Nigerians for higher education.

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, proposed the bill, which was supposed to start between September and October 2023.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the student loan programme would begin in January 2024 after missing the October deadline.

Over three thousand seven hundred students from one hundred and twenty six institutions register for student loan. Recall also that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on March 14 written to the National Assembly to repeal and reenact the student loan bill. The National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, had passed the student loan bill.

The student loan bill, which scaled first, second, and third readings in both parliamentary sittings, became law in the beginning of the year 2024.

The Senate resolution had followed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's letter during plenary.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also sent a similar letter to the Senate, asking the lawmakers to accord his request “expeditious consideration.”

“Pursuant to Section 58 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward, herewith, the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2024 for the kind consideration of the House.

“The Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2024 seeks to enhance the implementation of the Higher Education Student Loan Scheme by addressing challenges related to the management structure of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELF), applicant eligibility requirements, loan purpose, funding sources, and disbursement and repayment procedures,” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s letter read.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office with a vision to revolutionize the educational sector in Nigeria. Recognizing the importance of education in driving national development, his administration prioritised initiatives to enhance access to quality education for all citizens. One of the key pillars of this vision was the implementation of student loan policies aimed at providing financial assistance to students in need.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan policies have had a profound impact on Nigerian students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. By offering financial support and assistance through low-interest student loans, many students who would have otherwise been unable to afford higher education have been able to pursue their academic dreams. This has resulted in an increase in the number of students enrolling in universities and colleges across the country, leading to a more educated and skilled workforce.

Furthermore, the availability of student loan has reduced the burden of tuition fees on students and their families, allowing them to focus on their studies without the constant worry of financial constraints. This has contributed to improved academic performance and higher graduation rates among students benefiting from the student loan scheme.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan policies have also had a positive impact on the overall educational sector in Nigeria. By increasing access to higher education, the policies have helped to bridge the gap between the demand for skilled professionals and the available workforce. This, in turn, has led to a more competitive and dynamic labour market, with graduates equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to drive economic growth and innovation.

Moreover, the student loan policies have incentivised universities and colleges to enhance the quality of education they provide, as students are now able to choose institutions based on academic excellence rather than financial considerations. This has fostered a culture of academic excellence and accountability within the educational sector, leading to improvements in teaching standards, research output, and overall institutional performance.

While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan policies have yielded significant benefits, there are challenges that remain to be addressed. These include ensuring the sustainability of the student loan scheme, preventing misuse of funds, and expanding access to students in remote and underserved areas. Additionally, there is a need for continuous monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the policies and make necessary adjustments to optimise their impact.

Looking ahead, the future prospects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan policies are promising. By building on the successes achieved so far and addressing the challenges that arise, the government can further strengthen the educational sector and empower more Nigerian students to realise their full potential. With a commitment to investing in education and supporting students, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is paving the way for a brighter future for the youth and the nation as a whole.

Speaking with Daily Independent correspondent, Honorable Terseer Ugbor, Representative for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency from Benue State has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first year in office has laid the groundwork for significant progress, with notable achievements in various sectors, noting that the right policy choices had been put in place, but implementation had remained the challenge.

Honorable Ugbor made this observation while assessing one year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that the president in his first year in office made notable progress across several areas outlined in his “Renewed Hope” campaign manifesto.

According to Honorable Ugbor, on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's striking achievements include the students Loan policy.

Honorable Terseer Ugbor said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan policies have been instrumental in transforming the educational landscape in Nigeria, providing opportunities for students to access higher education and contribute to national development. By prioritising education and investing in the future of the youth, his administration has set a strong foundation for sustainable growth and progress. As the impact of these policies continues to unfold, it is evident that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a more educated and prosperous Nigeria is well on its way to becoming a reality.

The student loan is actually a way of upgrading the quality of education in Nigeria because it ensures that universities receive funds from these student loans to reinvest into the teaching environment, the learning environment, the learning aids, and teaching aids by lecturers.

“Hopefully it also helps to increase even the salaries and the allowances of lecturers in Nigeria. So we are totally in support of this. This does not stop other agencies of government responsible for supporting education in Nigeria. It doesn’t stop their work. TETFUND is still in existence, supporting the infrastructure. What the students’ loan does is that for once, students are considered in terms of support for tertiary education.

Student loan will go a long way especially for less privileged one. We held focus groups discussions with students across the country, we met with the Nigerian student unions, and from all our discussions with them, the students’ loan scheme is actually desirable to the students. During the summit, parent groups were also represented, and they agreed that the students’ loan scheme will be a necessary addition to our legislation.

“Don’t forget that over the years, Nigeria had implemented the TETFUND, which is still in existence, which was dedicated towards infrastructure in the universities, which has been going on quite successfully.

“Nigeria has also supported lecturers. Nigeria pays public university lecturers directly from the national purse. We’ve had strikes in this country where ASUU has gone on strike calling for improved funding for education.

“The students’ loan scheme is one of the ways of supporting the funding of education in Nigeria because the student loans are paid directly to the universities

Speaking with Daily Independent correspondent, Director of Research and Documentation, for a civil society organisation, Nigeria First Project, Bishir Sabuwar, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his effort in the last one year at revamping the education sector.

Bishir Sabuwar, has praised the Federal Government for establishing a dozen public universities in the last one year.

Bishir Sabuwar, said, “The government’s accomplishments in the education sector include the establishment of nine new federal science and technical colleges, conversion of 13 colleges of education into federal universities, establishment of six federal polytechnics, and six federal colleges of education. Additionally, federal tertiary institutions have been granted autonomy for the recruitment of both academic and non-academic staff.”

Bishir Sabuwar, contends that Nigeria’s burgeoning population, exceeding 200,000,000 necessitates the establishment of additional universities. This comes amidst the ongoing struggle faced by existing institutions grappling with insufficient funding. The influx of students graduating from both public and private secondary schools across the nation underscores the urgent need for more avenues of higher education.

“We still lack sufficient universities and polytechnics to accommodate our vast population. Therefore, it’s commendable that the President is dedicated to establishing more educational institutions. We urge him to persist in this endeavour.”

“In terms of funding, it simply requires institutions to be innovative and devise strategies to generate extra revenue,” , Bishir Sabuwar, suggested.

Source: https://independent.ng/president-tinubus-student-loan-policies-transforming-nigerias-educational-landscape/

Npower News: Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Appeals To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu To Appoint A New Minster For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a new minister for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly on his progressive policies, support for People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens, also commended the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, for her firm support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in addition to the agricultural support Senator Remi Tinubu has recently extended to women and youths as well as People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) across the federation as the farming season has begun in earnest.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Comrade Aliyu Muhammad Sani, maintained that their main objective of organising the press conference was to join several other groups and individuals to drum support for Mrs Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, who has over the years distinguished herself as a true humanitarian to be appointed as the minister for humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.

Comrade Aliyu Muhammad Sani, said, “Today we join PWDs across the 36 states and FCT as well APC PWDs leaders in the 36 states and all other stakeholders like Senators, APC stalwarts, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), credible and objective observers and youth parliaments across the country who have been agitating and consulting widely for the appointment of this seasoned humanitarian as a minister.

“As a selfless patriot who has been using her personal resources to bring succour to senior citizens, PWDs and the less privileged through her well-thought-out Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation (QATFoundation), giving her a position of responsibility in line with her passion and interest will energise her to do more for the downtrodden of our society,” Comrade Aliyu Muhammad Sani, said.

Source: https://leadership.ng/csos-urge-appointment-of-humanitarian-affairs-minister/

₦1,000,000,000 Federal Government Loans Available For Businesses At 9% Interest Rate — Wale Edun

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, says the Federal Government is offering businesses including manufacturers in the country federal government loan up to ₦1,000,000,000 at a 9% interest rate.

Wale Edun, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, said the current administration recognises the challenge of entrepreneurs to access affordable funds for their businesses, hence the federal government loan initiative.

Wale Edun said small-scale entrepreneurs can get up to ₦1,000,000,000 in federal government loan while larger businesses can access up to ₦1,000,000,000 at 9% interest rate, which is cheaper than the current interest rate of 26.25 % recommended to commercial banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),

Wale Edun said, “The emphasis is on ramping up food production, the emphasis is on dealing with food nutrition and food insecurity.

“Likewise, the emphasis is on helping small-scale businesses through grants, and nano enterprises through grant funding. That is being rolled out and it’s being done in a manner which, as I said before, is a world-class standard where you identify biometrically the person that is the beneficiary and you pay them through a digital process which you can easily reconcile.

“That is the emphasis, to make sure that we ramp up that speed and the scale of the help that is there even loans are 9% for medium scale enterprises, up to 1 million naira for the smaller enterprises and then for the larger enterprises up to 1 billion naira funding at 9% so that those manufacturing firms can invest grow the economy employ people produce more goods that will help to bring down inflation.”

Wale Edun assured Nigerians that food prices would come down in the coming months.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said though food insecurity is a worldwide phenomenon, the government has dedicated special funding for infrastructure to boost agricultural output.

Wale Edun said, “Inflation, yes, it is high at 33.65%, food inflation at 40.5% is worrisomely high but the fact is that inflation is coming down, month-on-month. It is slowing and it is expected to reduce as we continue the dry season harvest and then we go into the wet season harvest. That is the place to focus on and a lot of emphasis is being placed on that to get agriculture output up, to get prices down, and that will be a nig factor in bringing down inflation.”

Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last weeks, as Nigerians battle the country’s current economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2024/06/03/%E2%82%A61bn-loan-available-for-businesses-at-9-interest-rate-wale-edun/

Npower News: Over One Hundred Thousand Anambra Households To Benefit From Conditional Cash Transfer

Over one hundred thousand vulnerable households in Anambra State are to benefit from the ongoing “Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme” of the Federal Government.

The Head of the Anambra State Conditional Cash Transfer Unit, Mr Ralph Enukora, revealed this in Awka over the weekend during an orientation training for desk officers from the twenty-one local government areas of the state.

Mr Ralph Enukora said that the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme is a scale-up of the National Social Safety Nets Project that began more than five years ago and was meant for the poorest of the poor who were selected from the hard-to-reach areas of each state of Nigeria.

The newly upgraded conditional cash transfer scheme to accommodate vulnerable households in both rural and urban areas of the federation has the aim of lifting poor households out of poverty through the payment of a monthly stipend.

According to Mr Ralph Enukora, the beneficiaries drawn from the twenty-one local government areas of the state would receive ₦25,000 each for three months.

Mr Ralph Enukora revealed that they had been able to enrol over 50,000 persons out of the total number of beneficiaries before the conditional cash transfer programme was suspended by the federal government, revealing that the already-enrolled beneficiaries will start receiving their stipend this month, and other beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer will soon be enrolled as plans towards carrying out the exercise are already complete.

Mr Ralph Enukora stated that the process for enrolment and payment to the beneficiaries is now digitised to ensure accountability and transparency, as the stipend will now be paid directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

On the importance of the training, Mr Ralph Enukora explained that the training was aimed at educating the desk officers on the new changes in the conditional cash transfer programme for proper implementation and management of the conditional cash transfer programme.

Also speaking, the Head of Operation Anambra State Cash Transfer Unit, Lady Florence Makah, reminded the beneficiaries that the conditional cash transfer programme is not a lifelong thing, hence the need for them to judiciously use the stipend to improve their businesses and their lives.

On his part, Management Information System Officer One, Anambra State Cash Transfer Unit, Mr Arinze Melifeonwu, praised the desk officers on the efforts made so far in ensuring success in the implementation of the conditional cash transfer programme in the state, encouraging them to sustain the tempo.

Source: https://tribuneonlineng.com/over-100000-anambra-households-to-benefit-from-fg-cash-transfer-programme/

Federal Government Grant Disbursement Ongoing Today June 4th 2024

The federal government grant disbursement is ongoing as we speak, applicants that registered for the federal government grant but did not receive the federal government grant initially have started getting the federal government grant disbursement into their bank account.

Applicants yet to receive the federal government grant are advised to visit the federal government grant portal and check the number of beneficiaries in their local government area, once the beneficiaries in the applicant's local government area is below 1290 beneficiaries then the applicant might still receive the federal government grant, but if the beneficiaries in the applicant's local government area has gotten to 1290 beneficiaries then regrettably the applicant will not receive the federal government grant disbursement, the applicant should apply for the federal government loan.

Latest Npower News Today Tuesday June 4th 2024

According to Npower News, the National Coordinator has taken to the social handle of National Association of Npower beneficiaries to say that if Npower payment is effected by June 15th a massive demonstration will take place at Abuja. See statement below.

"After my Exams, I'll be ready to come back to the street and keep fighting for you. Anything beyond June 15th without Payments we are definitely going to stage another massive protest in Abuja.

At this point, all I need is your prayer as I dip into my Medical board examinations deeply!!!" the Npower National Coordinator said.

Recall that the Npower National Coordinator had earlier said that they had contacted the Presidency and Npower was said to be lifted this month and Npower payment to beneficiaries of Npower batch c stream 2 will start this month, should this fail to happen an organized peaceful demonstration will take place at the FCT Abuja. 

According to the Npower national coordinator, beneficiaries are advised to exercise patience and avoid any form of violence and wait till June 15th, once Npower payment is not effected then a massive protest will take place.

Npower News: People Living With Disabilities Urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu To Appoint Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

The Coalition of People Living With Disabilities in the nineteen Northern States and Abuja has begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the appointment of one of their own, Adenike Tejuosho as the Minster for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Reports have it that the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a minister since the suspension of Betta Edu and the National Social Investment Programmes which includes Npower in January by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Members of the coalition of People Living With Disabilities that met on the historical Arewa House include People Living With Disabilities across the nineteen states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as well as the APC of People Living With Disability (PWD) members, the National Association of Nigerian Students, and National Youth Council of Nigeria, among others.

The groups said they had consulted widely over their choice and concluded to recommend Adenike Tejuosho as their choice as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

The Chairman of the coalition, Aliyu Sani Mohammed, who spoke on Adenike Tejuosho's behalf, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the support extended to them People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) and the senior citizens in his first year in office.

Aliyu Sani Mohammed, praised President Bola Ahmed wife and Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her firm support to her husband, in addition to the agricultural support Senator Oluremi Tinubu has recently extended to People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) across the federation at the commencement of the farming season.

Aliyu Sani Mohammed said that one request that is very dear to them is to join several other groups and individuals to drum up support for Mrs Halimat Adenike Tejuosho who has over the years distinguished herself as a true humanitarian to be appointed as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“As a selfless patriot who has been using her personal resources to bring succour to senior citizens, the PWDs and the less privileged through her well thought out “Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation,” giving her a position of responsibility in line with her passion and interest, will energise her to do more for the downtrodden in our society.

“Judging by all the individual sacrifices and the sheer passion to touch lives, the coalition appealed to Mr. President to urgently consider filling the vacuum created with the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu by appointing Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to enable Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the area of poverty alleviation.

“It goes without saying that since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a Minister, the government is failing in providing basic succour to the less privileged.

“From her antecedents and if given the opportunity, Tejuosho, will continue to extend her generosity and passion to bring a turn around in the fortunes of the less privileged and downtrodden in Nigeria,” Aliyu Sani Mohammed said.

Aliyu Sani Mohammed also argued that the permutations that Adenike Tejuosho is not from the South-south geo-political zone should not be used as the yardstick for picking the next Nigerian to occupy the Humanitarian Ministry, noting that merit must supercede ethnicity.

“We do not want to trivialise the issue of origin and region as competence and merit should triumph over issues of origin and other differences that only serve to divide, rather than unite us,” Aliyu Sani Mohammed emphasized.

Further speaking, Aliyu Sani Mohammed further pointed out, “Therefore, it is our earnest appeal to Mr. President to consider appointing this noble, hardworking and dedicated humanitarian and party stalwart as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“As a mark of true philanthropy, the quintessential lady recently celebrated Children’s Day with vulnerable and indigent children where over 500 school books, bags, shoes, water bottles, foodstuffs and writing materials were shared.

“Her Ramadan largesse to over 1000 PWDs as well as Sallah packages to hundreds of households who could not afford to celebrate the festivities cannot be forgotten.

The Coalition reiterated the support and efforts made by the over 27 million PWD community in the country who had worked for the election of President Tinubu and appealed to grant their only one wish by appointing one of them who has distinguished herself as a minister of the Federal Republic.

“We are united with one voice without any external influence in making this appeal and prayer. It will be a privilege to appoint this selfless woman as a minister because we are very sure she will deliver. This is our collective resolve born out of the conviction that with the support she has been giving people in the community for over 10 years, she’s the right person for the job. Politics, region and other considerations should be put aside to allow competence and merit to prevail,” the chairman declared.

Another leader of the PWDs, Sani Ahmed, while also imploring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick Adenike Tejuosho whom he described as one with the “golden heart,” said that the positive and laudable efforts of Adenike Tejuosho's Humanitarian services could be seen and felt across the thirty six states of the federation, including Abuja, especially among the people with disabilities.

Adamu Abdullahi, yet another People Living With Disability (PWD) said at the gathering, that “the woman has always been there for the disabled people for long. Therefore, we (persons with disabilities) are appealing to the president to consider our request.”

Another member, Esther Jonah, said, “I am happy to be here because we know our father (Tinubu) is a listening person who listens to the yearnings of the poor. Our father (Tinubu) should consider Adenike Tejuisho by giving her a ministerial appointment.

“I have never met her but I have heard what she has been doing. I hear about what she had done for our people and I know she will do better if she is there in the ministry,” Esther Jonah appealed.

Source: https://punchng.com/pwds-beg-tinubu-to-appoint-humanitarian-minister/

Npower News Today Monday June 3rd 2024

According to Npower News today the conditional cash transfer training for desks officers and SCTU staffs is ongoing across the federation once the conditional cash transfer training ends then enumeration commences, applicants are advised that the conditional cash transfer application will not be done online but done physically at the state cash transfer office, applicants are advised to visit the state cash transfer office for their enumeration and enrollment, beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer under the Renewed Hope program will receive 75,000 every three months from the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO).

According to Npower News on Npower payment, beneficiaries should kindly note that Npower suspension has not been lifted, but there are speculations that Npower payment will start by June 15th, beneficiaries of Npower should kindly note that Npower payment cannot start when Npower is still under suspension and the Betta Edu's investigation is yet to be concluded. Npower payment to beneficiaries of Npower will start when the suspension of Npower by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is lifted, at the moment the only component that is active is the conditional cash transfer program, the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme and the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme GEEP is also under suspension.

According to Npower News, the National Coordinator of Npower has said that if Npower payment do not start latest by June 15th then a massive protest will be carried out at Abuja, beneficiaries of Npower are hereby directed and advised to exercise patience till June 15th.

Npower Stream 2 Payment News Today on Payment Monday June 3rd

According to npower stream 2 payment news today on payment Monday June 3rd, the National Npower coordinator has taken to Facebook to say that if Npower payment does not commence lattest by Saturday June 15th, then there will be a massive demonstration at Abuja.

Recall that the Npower national coordinator in previous videos and publications had announced and inform beneficiaries of Npower batch c stream 2 that Npower payment will start by June and the suspension of Npower will be lifted. Although the conditional cash transfer which is a component of the National Social Investment Programme has commenced again, the Presidency is yet to mention anything regarding the lifting of Npower suspension nor the payment of outstanding stipends to beneficiaries of Npower.

According to Npower News, beneficiaries are implored to exercise patience till June 15th, once Npower payment is not made by June 15th then a massive demonstration will start this month. Beneficiaries of Npower are advised to make good use of the federal government schemes being rolled out as they await their Npower payment by June 15th all things being equal.

Students To Start Getting Student Loan Disbursement In 3 Weeks Time

According to Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, the managing director of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) students will start getting the student loan disbursement of the first phase  in 3 weeks time.

Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, disclosed this on Saturday, June 1, 2024, during an NTA Weekend File live programme where Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, spoke on ‘Monitoring First Phase of Students Loan Scheme’.

“We will begin to disburse the students’ loan in the next 20 days, when the academic session starts,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said.

Speaking on some challenges being faced by students applying for the student loan, the NELFUND managing director stated that there are glitches on the student loan application because sometimes the students’ registration numbers and other required numbers do not match with what is in the student loan application portal, hence, they may be denied access on the student loan portal until such is sorted out.

Meanwhile, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, disclosed that there is a skill acquisition provision in the Students’ Loan Act as amended.

“The initial Act did not include skills acquisition, but the amended Act has included it,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said.

Explaining why there was an infusion in the re-enacted Act, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requested for a skill acquisition provision to be added to the new Act because Nigeria requires a skilled workforce to grow its economy.

“The Students’ Loan Scheme provides funds for those who want to upgrade their skills, and Nigeria needs skilled man power,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, noted.

However, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, explained that the main problem faced by the agency in executing this aspect of the student loan is that NELFUND has to set the standards for selecting those seeking the student loan for their skills upgrading.

In addition to this, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, pointed out that engaging the youth in skill acquisition will go a long way in helping the country tackle armed robbery, banditry, and other manners of crimes associated with idle youngsters.

The student loan application portal was launched on Friday, May 24, 2024, to relieve Nigerians from the burden of trying to bridge their children’s higher education gap and to help youth actualise their lives dreams and academic aspirations.

The student loan scheme is seen by many as one major landmark that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration is serious about repositioning education in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), students can access student loans to pursue their academic aspirations and live their dreams without financial constraints and limitations through the student loan as it is going to be rolled out in phases.

“The first thing I can tell you is that we’re going to roll this out in phases, the first phase is going to be with federal institutions and then we’re going to move to the other tertiary institutions.

“It’s going to be the public sector mainly at the beginning because that’s where we find the bulk of students who perhaps need the financing cover,” Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, said.

Source: https://businessday.ng/news/article/student-loan-disbursement-to-commence-in-20-days-sawyer/