The immediate-past speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday, said he is excited over President Bola Tinubu’s accent to the student loan bill he personally sponsored.
Gbajabiamila said the bill will assist indigent students and families in grasping the opportunities that higher education offers.
Other Nigerians also aired their views as Omoyele Sowore, Shehu Sani, Reno Omokri, Rufai Oseni of Arise TV either praised or kicked against the bill that was recently signed into law.
Gbajabiamila in his words said, “I am excited that President @officialABAT has signed the “Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Bill” into law. I sponsored this Bill in the House of Representatives, confident it will assist indigent students and families in grasping the opportunities that higher education can provide.”
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani in his reaction on Twitter said, “Most of those occupying the positions of power and authority were beneficiaries of free education and free scholarships. Tying down students with loans is unconscionable. Let’s not forget that we are still a developing country.”
Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), said student loans are not good for a society that needs to aggressively fund education.
According to him, the United States has more or less devoured its young and old educated population with student loans. What Nigerian youth need now is free quantitative education at all levels.
“Many US citizens today are victims of education loans whereas the US spends unconscionable amounts in fighting wars that benefit none of their citizens,” he said.
He said every student in our educational institution at the higher levels should earn nothing less than N100k per semester as study grant.
He further explained that the US has evolved past this stage and is now seeking ways to massively forgo student loans.
“PS: I’ve spoken extensively about loans because I am still owing student loan sharks 20 years after graduating from Columbia University in New York.”
“Nothing good will come out of students’ loans.”
Reno Omokri, a critic of President Bola Tinubu and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hailed the president’s accent of the student loan bill into law.
In his words, “President Bola Tinubu deserves more than kudos for the Student Loan initiative. This scheme is exactly what we need to unleash the value domiciled in Nigeria’s youth. The interest-free aspect of the loan is highly generous.
“It makes better sense to spend money on education than on fuel subsidy. In just two weeks, Tinubu has fulfilled more electoral promises than Buhari fulfilled in eight years. This is the epitome of hitting the ground running. Countries do not grow Great by what is under their ground. It is what is between their people’s ears that leads to their greatness. President Tinubu gets this, and I will not withhold praise from whom it is due! And this goes for when he does wrong too. Carrot and stick.”
Oseni, a host on Arise TV, in a tweet tagged a Google search of newspaper reports of the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU condemning student loans in 2022.
he said, “ASUU kicks against education loan, says it’s a monumental failure”
See other reactions from Nigerians
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@AyamTjay
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1h
You will just be talking anyhow, how many countries in the world gives free education at all levels? Nigeria can’t afford that. Una too dey rate this poor country Sha….
Osetohamhen“ Revolutionary Jesusbaby”
@j_samdavid
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1h
Google be Dey your phone but no you have deliberately decided not to use it. Well done.
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Ridwan Azeez
@Rido4good
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1h
Walahi, werey ni sowore yi sha. I regret voting you in 2019. You miss it on this one sir, as a graduate owing 38k to FAFSA with 6% interest rate, I’ll take interest free student loan to beat that. Tertiary Education should never be FREE !!! clueless somebody!
Eloray Global Farms🐖🐬🐓🦃🐏💦
@Alay3luwa
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52m
Your uncle!
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Innocent Onyebuchi Idemili
@innomside
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1h
The US has developed and honed the skills of its young and old with student loans. It is a good idea when applied with honesty and integrity.
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Osetohamhen“ Revolutionary Jesusbaby”
@j_samdavid
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1h
We have told Nigeria . Experience will teach us in this case….
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Sunny Jossy Awoyelu🇬🇧🇳🇬🇺🇸
@Awoyelu
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36m
Students loan work for Uk
elFocus
@federalboi4life
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1h
Quote Tweet
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52m
I said it, you are communist.
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KELECHI
@blessd_kc
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@threadreaderapp
1h
@blessd_kc
Sorry we only unroll consecutive tweets from the same author, but if you want to grab the whole convo try
@pdfmakerapp