Atiku pledges review of NELFUND, debt forgiveness for eligible students

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to reassess the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and offer debt forgiveness for students who qualify. In a statement released on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed his belief that young Nigerians should not commence their careers burdened by education loans.

This position was made in response to President Bola Tinubu's recent remarks on X, defending the student loan system. Shaibu stated that Atiku's strategy would diminish the overall cost of education and, following a review, offer forgiveness for qualifying student debts, allowing young Nigerians to graduate with hope instead of repayment obligations.

Shaibu criticized the Federal Government's portrayal of NELFUND as proof that education has become less expensive, pointing out that tuition fees had increased prior to the introduction of the loan scheme. According to Shaibu, the existing system is an ineffective economic strategy. He argued that the government raised the cost of education before introducing loans as a solution, suggesting that a loan should not be misconstrued as a scholarship.

Shaibu also rejected the notion that Atiku's proposed energy policy would jeopardize NELFUND or workers' welfare.