NELFUND Slams Tertiary Institutions for Withholding Refunds

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has condemned tertiary institutions for delaying or refusing to refund students whose tuition fees were already paid before NELFUND disbursements, warning that such practices undermine the objectives of the student loan scheme.

The Fund also raised concerns about arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges, describing the practices as contrary to the goals of the programme established by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to remove financial barriers to higher education.

“The Student Loan Scheme, an initiative of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was established to remove financial barriers to higher education, not to create additional burdens for Nigerian students,” NELFUND said in a public notice issued on Monday.

The statement, signed by Director of Strategic Communications Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the Fund was engaging affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure due refunds are made to eligible students and that institutional charges remain fair and transparent.

NELFUND reiterated its commitment to protecting students’ interests and preserving the integrity of the intervention.

The latest intervention follows growing complaints from beneficiaries that some institutions have failed to refund the tuition fees they paid before NELFUND settled those obligations directly with schools.

The Fund has previously warned institutions that students who paid fees before NELFUND intervention are entitled to full refunds once the Fund remits tuition on their behalf.