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 had already paid before the disbursement of their NELFUND loans.
In a statement signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the Student Loan Scheme, introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was established to remove financial barriers to higher education, not to place additional burdens on students.
The Fund also raised the alarm over what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition fees and other institutional charges by some schools, warning that such practices undermine the objectives of the Student Loan Scheme.
According to the statement, NELFUND 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.
The statement reads, “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.”