The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the federal government’s NELFUND initiative of adopting a profit‑driven mindset instead of treating education as a social good.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, ASUU President Prof Piwuna criticized the move to offer student loans rather than grants, arguing that government support through grants would better serve universities and students.
Prof. Piwuna noted the low uptake of the scheme, only about 300,000 to 400,000 applications, saying many students are hesitant to take on debt.
He also revealed that ASUU declined to join the governing board of NELFUND to preserve its independence, while still expressing hope the program succeeds.
On rising tuition fees, Prof. Piwuna called for clear oversight and suggested harmonizing charges across institutions. He reaffirmed ASUU’s stance: that grants remain the most equitable means of funding tertiary education.
