The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has expressed concern over reports that some tertiary institutions are delaying or refusing to refund tuition fees to students who paid before the disbursement of their student loans.
NELFUND also raised the alarm over what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition fees and other institutional charges by some schools, warning that the practice undermines the objectives of the Student Loan Scheme.
In a statement signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the scheme, introduced under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was designed to remove financial barriers to higher education rather than impose additional burdens on students.
The Fund said it is engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that eligible students who paid their tuition before their loans were disbursed receive the refunds due to them. It also called on institutions to keep tuition and other charges fair and transparent.
The statement read: “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) 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 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 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.
“NELFUND remains committed to protecting the interests of students and preserving the integrity of this landmark national intervention.”
