NELFUND Raises Alarm Over Tuition Refund Delays, Fee Hikes by Tertiary Institutions
By Matthew Eloyi
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised concerns over reports that some tertiary institutions are delaying or refusing to refund tuition fees to students who had paid before the disbursement of their student loans, warning that the practice threatens the objectives of the Federal Government’s Student Loan Scheme.
The Fund also expressed concern over what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition fees and other institutional charges by some tertiary institutions, saying such actions could undermine the scheme introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to improve access to higher education.
In a statement signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND stressed that the Student Loan Scheme was designed to remove financial barriers to tertiary education rather than impose additional financial burdens on students.
According to the Fund, it is already engaging affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that students who paid their tuition fees before the release of their loans receive the refunds due to them. It also reiterated the need for institutions to maintain fair and transparent charges that align with the objectives of the scheme.
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.”
