Students from at least 23 public universities and polytechnics have expressed frustration over the delayed disbursement of their approved institutional loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), as deadlines for tuition payments and examinations draw near.
The Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on April 3, 2024, was designed to provide sustainable higher education funding for Nigerian students. Since its launch, thousands of students have benefited, with NELFUND reporting that, as of February 3, 2025, it had received 364,042 applications and disbursed N20.07 billion for institutional fees, assisting 192,906 students. An additional N12.82 billion has been allocated to 169,114 students as a N20,000 monthly upkeep stipend.
However, despite these figures, many students from institutions such as the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), and others in Northern Nigeria have complained about the non-disbursement of their approved loans.
With school portals set to close in a matter of days and exams fast approaching, affected students have taken to social media to voice their grievances. A student from the University of Maiduguri, Musty Jr (@JrMusty58254), wrote on Saturday, *“I applied and was verified since August, yet I have received nothing. Please do something for us before next Wednesday. I am in serious financial crisis!”*
Similarly, Orji Oyidiya Chukwu (@OyidiyaOrji) tweeted on Sunday, *“@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 joined the outcry. Stephen Ayobami from the Federal University Lokoja tweeted, *“@NELFUND, we applied since May last year, 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!”*
Students from Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, also raised concerns. The institution’s Students’ Union Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Nura, issued a circular on Tuesday warning that failure to pay tuition fees before the deadline could cause serious problems for students.
Confirming the non-disbursement, Abba Yusuf from the same institution stated, *“We have been verified since August 2024, yet not a single payment has been made!”*
Students from polytechnics have also reported similar issues. Oladiran Kayode noted that many students from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, were still waiting for their institutional and upkeep loans. Meanwhile, Kolapo James Ayomi (@kolapojames01) from LAUTECH lamented, *“Tests and exams have begun, yet without paying our tuition fees, we can’t register our courses!”*
Speaking to *Saturday PUNCH*, a NELFUND official, who requested anonymity, blamed schools for the delays.
*“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,”* the source explained.
As the deadline for tuition fee payments approaches, affected students remain anxious, urging authorities to intervene and resolve the delays.
