The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has launched a crackdown on tertiary institutions that are illegally withholding tuition refunds from students, warning that such practices undermine the government’s flagship education initiative.
In a strongly worded public notice issued Monday, NELFUND condemned both the refusal to issue refunds and arbitrary tuition hikes, describing these actions as a betrayal of the student loan programme’s core mission.
“The Student Loan Scheme, an initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, was established to remove financial barriers to higher education, not to create additional burdens for Nigerian students,” the Fund stated.
The Problem
· Some institutions are delaying or refusing to refund students who had already paid tuition before NELFUND disbursed the same fees to the schools
· Other schools have been accused of arbitrarily increasing tuition and institutional charges
· Students have complained about lengthy refund processing delays despite institutions confirming receipt of NELFUND payments
NELFUND’s Response
· The Fund has commenced engagements with affected institutions and relevant authorities
· Schools are being compelled to ensure eligible students receive their full refunds
· Institutions are being warned that charges must remain “fair, transparent, and consistent” with the scheme’s objectives
What’s at Stake
The student loan programme provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions, with tuition paid directly to schools and upkeep allowances disbursed to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Monday’s notice signals a tougher enforcement stance as NELFUND moves to protect both student interests and public confidence in this “landmark national intervention.”
