FG Student Loan: NELFUND Takes Action Against Schools Over Tuition Refund Complaints

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has launched a clapdown on tertiary institutions accused of withholding tuition refunds from students and arbitrarily increasing school charges despite benefiting from the Federal Government's student loan scheme.

The agency described the alleged practices as unethical and warned that they undermine the objectives of the student loan programme introduced to expand access to higher education.

In a public notice issued on Monday, NELFUND's Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the Fund had received reports that some institutions were refusing or delaying refunds to students who had already paid their tuition before NELFUND later disbursed the same fees directly to the schools.

Under the scheme, tuition fees approved for eligible beneficiaries are paid directly to their institutions. Where students had already settled their fees before the disbursement, the affected institutions are expected to refund the payments.

NELFUND said it was also concerned about what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges by some higher institutions, warning that such actions place additional financial burdens on students and threaten the integrity of the programme.

The Fund stressed that the student loan initiative, introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was designed to eliminate financial barriers to tertiary education not create new ones.

According to the agency, it has begun engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that all eligible students receive their refunds without unnecessary delay.

NELFUND added that measures are also being implemented to ensure tuition fees and other institutional charges remain fair, transparent and consistent with the objectives of the student loan scheme.

"NELFUND remains committed to protecting the interests of students and preserving the integrity of this landmark national intervention," the agency said.

The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the credibility of the student loan programme and ensuring that beneficiaries receive the full value of the Federal Government's education financing initiative without being subjected to exploitative practices by tertiary institutions.

The latest intervention comes amid growing participation in the student loan scheme, with NELFUND intensifying oversight to ensure institutions comply with the programme's operational guidelines and that eligible students receive all benefits due to them.