N5,250 Extortion Claim False, Says Taraba College of Nursing as Investigation Begins

A social media post alleging that a Nursing College in Taraba State collected unauthorised fees from students after they received government loans has been rejected by the Institution's Management, which says the claims are false and that an investigation is already under way to identify those responsible for the publication.

The Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Jalingo, responded through a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Gideon David Jimenda, denying that any student was charged N5,250 following the disbursement of loans under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. The publication, attributed on social media to one Abdulmumin Imam, was described by management as misleading and targeted at damaging the institution's reputation.

"The Management of the College of Nursing, including the Provost, has at no time requested any amount of money from students after the NELFUND loan disbursement. The social media report by one Abdulmumin Imam is false and does not reflect the true situation in the school," the statement read.

The College confirmed that students are required to pay N12,000, but maintained that the charge is a standard academic requirement with no connection to the NELFUND disbursement. The breakdown covers N4,000 for a Clinical Logbook, N2,500 as the balance for a Record of Instruction, N4,000 for an Entrepreneurial Logbook and table used during training, and N1,500 for Administrative and Bank charges. Management added that these materials are supplied directly by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in Abuja and apply equally to NELFUND beneficiaries and non beneficiaries.

On the investigation, the College said students were invited for an interface with management after the publication surfaced. Some acknowledged awareness of the write up, and their phones were examined to verify involvement. "The college has taken the matter seriously, and appropriate investigations are ongoing by relevant authorities," the statement said.

Management also criticised the Media Outlets that circulated the story without first seeking official comment, noting that no organisation contacted the college for clarification before publishing.

For a Nursing College whose students depend on government loan funding to complete their training, the allegation carries serious implications. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the denial holds or whether questions about the institution's handling of student finances require fuller accounting.