By Ayo Yusuf
President Bola Tinubu has assured that the era of industrial actions in the nation’s academic environment has come to an end as his administration’s Students Loans Scheme commences January next year.
President Tinubu gave the assurance on Monday while speaking at the 29th edition of the annual Nigerian Economic Summit, anchored by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the TranscorpTranscorp Hilton, Abuja.
The President, who also spoke extensively on his administration’s plans to stabilise the economy, with the collaboration of all stakeholders, especially the private sector, noted the need to immediately initiate a sustainable credit scheme, which he said will aid an effective anti-corruption campaign.
He said “By January 2024 the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students we’re saying no more strikes.
“There must be consumer credit, the scheme will have to come to effect as soon as possible. I urge my team and my colleagues to build this programme, develop it now. We cannot talk about anti-corruption when you have to look for cash to buy a car, when there’s no mortgage for homeownership”, he said.
President Tinubu’s comments come just 72 hours after he approved the partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities following the commencement of their eight-month strike which began on February 14, 2022, and was terminated on October 17, 2022.
The waiver allows for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.
