The Coalition of Northern Groups, Student Wing (CNG-SW), has strongly rejected the federal government’s proposed tax reform bill, branding it as anti-students and detrimental to Nigeria's education sector.
Addressing journalists on Saturday at the IBB Pen House, Minna, the National Coordinator of CNG-SW, Comrade Hassan Adamu, criticized the bill, accusing it of undermining critical educational institutions like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Adamu lamented that the tax reform bill is a deliberate ploy to weaken TETFund, an agency pivotal in funding research, infrastructure, and staff development in tertiary institutions. "This bill will turn our tertiary institutions into mortuaries. Nigerian students will vehemently resist this move, no matter the cost," he declared.
He added that diverting funds from TETFund to support the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) would saddle students with unsustainable debts. Under the proposed bill, NELFUND’s share of levies will rise from 1% to 100% by 2030, potentially forcing institutions to increase tuition fees and risking the privatization of public education.
The group also criticized the poor disbursement process of student loans under NELFUND, revealing that 51 out of 96 Northern tertiary institutions approved in the first phase are yet to receive funds. Adamu further alleged regional marginalization, noting that many institutions in the North remain excluded from the scheme.
Adding his voice, the Niger State Coordinator of CNG-SW, Comrade Abdullahi B. Muhammad, called for a halt to the tax reform process until consultations with stakeholders are conducted. He urged legislators to amend the bill to protect educational institutions and warned against tuition fee hikes.
"The attempt to scrap or underfund TETFund will be met with stiff resistance. Institutions must also avoid setting unrealistic deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursements," Muhammad warned.
The CNG-SW reiterated its commitment to fighting for the interests of Nigerian students and ensuring access to affordable, quality education remains a priority.