By The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised concerns over alleged practices by some tertiary institutions involving delayed refunds to students and unexpected increases in tuition and other school charges.
In a public notice issued in Abuja on Monday, June 29, 2026, the agency said it had received reports of institutions refusing or delaying the return of money to students who had already paid their fees before receiving NELFUND support.
The fund also expressed concern over what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition fees and other institutional charges, warning that such actions could undermine the purpose of the student loan scheme.
NELFUND said the education loan programme was created to ease financial pressure on Nigerian students and improve access to higher education.
The agency stated that the scheme was introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove financial barriers, rather than introduce additional difficulties for beneficiaries.
Speaking on the issue, NELFUND Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the organisation was engaging affected institutions and relevant authorities to address the complaints.
“The fund is committed to ensuring that eligible students receive their due refunds and that charges remain fair, transparent and aligned with the objectives of the scheme,” Oluwatuyi said.
NELFUND added that it would continue to protect the interests of students and maintain the credibility of the national intervention programme.
The agency urged tertiary institutions involved in the scheme to uphold transparency and cooperate with efforts aimed at ensuring that the student loan initiative achieves its intended purpose.
