Following the review of the report from the committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND, the Senate has officially approved the Student Loan, Access to Higher Education Act 2024 during its plenary session.
Senator Muntari Dandutse, the chairman of the committee, presented the report during the session held on Wednesday, paving the way for the approval of the bill.
This development comes after President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.
In response, the Upper Legislative chamber expedited the process by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.
The objective of the Bill is to facilitate easy access to higher education for financially disadvantaged Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, as established in the Act, ensuring education accessibility for all citizens.
Following thorough deliberations on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has referred it to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative scrutiny. The committee is expected to conduct comprehensive legislative work on the Bill and report back to the Senate within one week.