The Nigerian government has officially declared a revised date for the commencement of the Access to Higher Education Act, often referred to as the Students Loan Law, which was recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June.
The legislation has faced substantial criticism from many Nigerians who fear it could pave the way for the introduction of tuition fees in the country’s tertiary institutions.
Despite initial plans for implementation to begin in September, the timeline was not realized.
However, President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the 29th National Economic Summit on Monday, confirmed that the student loan program is now set to kick off in January 2024.
Tinubu said the loan programme “must commence” in January 2024. The announcement comes in the midst of ongoing debates and concerns surrounding the law.
Further details regarding the program’s structure and execution are anticipated as the implementation date approaches.
