The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has warned tertiary institutions accused of withholding tuition fee refunds owed to students under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, saying it has begun engaging affected schools and relevant authorities to enforce compliance.
In a public notice issued on Monday, NELFUND also condemned reports of arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges, describing such actions as inconsistent with the objectives of the student loan programme.
According to the Fund, some institutions have delayed or refused to refund students who had already paid their tuition fees before NELFUND later paid the same fees directly to the institutions on their behalf.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has noted with concern reports of some tertiary institutions delaying or refusing to refund students whose tuition fees had already been paid before NELFUND disbursements, as well as arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges,” the statement said.
NELFUND stressed that the student loan scheme, introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was created to remove financial barriers to higher education and should not become an additional burden for students.
To address the complaints, the agency said it has commenced discussions with affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure eligible students receive their refunds while institutional charges remain fair and transparent.
“NELFUND is engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that due refunds are made to eligible students and that institutional charges remain fair, transparent, and consistent with the objectives of the Scheme,” the statement added.
The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students’ interests and preserving confidence in what it described as a landmark national intervention.
The latest action follows growing complaints from beneficiaries who said some tertiary institutions failed to refund tuition fees they had paid before NELFUND settled the same fees directly with their schools. Students have also reported delays in receiving refunds despite confirmation that the institutions had already received the payments.
The Federal Government’s student loan scheme provides interest-free loans to eligible students in public tertiary institutions. Under the programme, NELFUND pays tuition fees directly to institutions, while approved upkeep allowances are paid into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Since disbursements began, the Fund has repeatedly reminded institutions that students who paid their fees before NELFUND’s intervention are entitled to full refunds once the agency remits the tuition on their behalf. Monday’s warning signals a tougher enforcement approach aimed at preventing practices that could undermine confidence in the programme.
