NELFUND: Students express frustration over loan delays as exams approach

Students from at least 23 public universities and polytechnics have expressed concerns over the delayed release of their approved institutional loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, as deadlines for tuition payments and upcoming examinations draw closer.

On April 3, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act into law to establish a sustainable system for funding higher education for Nigerian students.

Since the implementation of the Fund, numerous students in tertiary institutions have benefited from it. As of February 3, 2025, NELFUND reported receiving a total of 364,042 student loan applications and had disbursed N20,074,050,000 in institutional fees, which benefited 192,906 students.

Additionally, an amount of N12,818,960,000 was allocated to 169,114 students, each receiving a monthly stipend of N20,000 for their upkeep.

However, in reaction to NELFUND’s verified posts on X throughout the week, students from various institutions—including the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University, Lokoja, Ladoke Akintola University, and several institutions in Northern Nigeria—voiced their frustration over the non-receipt of their approved loans.

Many students complained that their school portals were set to close within a few days, while their examinations were fast approaching.

On Saturday, Musty Jr (@JrMusty58254) posted, “I am a University of Maiduguri student. I applied and was verified since August, yet I have received nothing from this initiative. Please, do something for us before next Wednesday. I am in serious financial crisis!”

Similarly, Orji Oyidiya Chukwu (@OyidiyaOrji) expressed concerns on Sunday, tweeting, “@NELFUND, my brother hasn’t received either the upkeep money or the institutional fees, and his school (UNIZIK) is closing its portal on Friday, February 14. Please, help!”

By Monday, more students had joined in sharing their grievances. Stephen Ayobami from the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi, posted, “@NELFUND, please remember us. We applied since May last year and have been verified, but there’s been no approval or disbursement.

“Many students are stranded—our school portal is closing this week, and exams start on the 10th of next month!”

At Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano, the Students’ Union Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Nura, issued a statement on Tuesday, warning that failure to meet the tuition payment deadline could lead to serious difficulties for students.

Confirming the ongoing delay, Abba Yusuf from the same institution stated, “Why haven’t you disbursed funds for Aliko Dangote University students? Both upkeep and institutional fees remain unpaid. We have been verified since August 2024, yet not a single payment has been made!”

Similarly, Bryan (@Chime69.23h), a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, wrote, “I have been verified since June 2024, yet I haven’t received any disbursement—neither institutional fees nor upkeep. My school has started a new academic session, and I have to pay my fees!”

Polytechnic students also raised similar concerns. Oladiran Kayode noted that many students at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, had yet to receive either their institutional or upkeep loans.

Meanwhile, Kolapo James Ayomi (@kolapojames01) from LAUTECH expressed his frustration, stating, “Tests and exams have begun, yet without paying our tuition fees, we can’t register our courses!”

Speaking with the media, a NELFUND official, who preferred to remain anonymous due to a lack of authorization to comment on the issue, attributed the delay in tuition fee disbursements to the schools.

The official explained, “Most times, these issues don’t originate from us. Once we approve the payments, we send the students’ data back to the schools for verification.

“The schools are then required to confirm the validity of the students and the tuition fees before we proceed. However, many institutions fail to respond promptly. We have to keep sending emails and reminders.”