The disbursement of funds from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has stalled in some universities, leaving students struggling to meet their tuition obligations.
The delay has been particularly concerning for final-year students, many of whom have already paid their fees out of pocket and are now uncertain about refunds.
In addition to tuition concerns, students who rely on the NELFUND monthly upkeep stipend of ₦20,000 are finding it difficult to balance their living expenses and tuition payments. The delay in disbursement has added financial strain, disrupted academic plans, and increased stress levels, especially for those in their final year.
At Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University (JOSTUM) Makurdi, students have been receiving the ₦20,000 stipend since December 2024, but the university has yet to provide any updates regarding the delay in tuition fee disbursement. Despite the government allocating ₦136.7 million to cover the tuition fees of 2,222 students, the funds have not yet been released by the school. This has forced many students to find alternative means to pay their fees.
Reports indicate that when the university resumed in January 2025, no clear directives were given to NELFUND beneficiaries on whether they should wait for the disbursement or proceed with registration. Fearing penalties for late registration, many students, including final-year ones, opted to pay their tuition from personal funds. However, while their names appear on the NELFUND beneficiary portal, they have only received the ₦20,000 stipend and not the tuition fee coverage.
A final-year Microbiology student, who requested anonymity, expressed frustration over the uncertainty. “I have only one semester left to graduate and have already paid my fees. I don’t know what the school plans to do. It feels like we’re in debt to the government for money we haven’t even received. Are they going to refund us after graduation? I paid over ₦52,000 this semester, and while I’ve been receiving the ₦20,000 allowance, there’s no clarity on what happens next,” he said.
Another student, Elijah, also voiced his concerns. “Some of us have already made the payment, so are we going to get our money back? We’re still waiting for the refund from the school,” he said.
Similar frustrations have been reported by students from other institutions, including the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University, who are also struggling to pay their tuition despite approvals.
In response to the situation, Comrade Elum Shadrach, Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union at JOSTUM, reassured students that the union is actively engaging with the school management to resolve the issue.
“We have confirmed that the funds for tuition have been received, but the management is working on integrating the school’s account with Remita so that the funds can be disbursed to students,” he explained.
NELFUND was established as a government initiative to provide interest-free loans to Nigerian students pursuing higher education. Repayment of the loan begins two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), allowing graduates time to secure employment and achieve financial stability before repayment begins.
As students await clarity on the situation, concerns continue to mount over how and when the funds will be disbursed, especially for those who have already made personal payments.
