NANS exposes 43 institutions over alleged failure to refund NELFUND tuition fees

NANS exposes 43 institutions over alleged failure to refund NELFUND tuition fees

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused 43 tertiary institutions across Nigeria of withholding tuition refunds after allegedly receiving duplicate payments from both students and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, released the list of the affected institutions, alleging that the schools collected tuition fees directly from students before later receiving NELFUND disbursements for the same beneficiaries without refunding the initial payments.

According to him, the institutions comprise universities, polytechnics and colleges of education spread across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

Afeez said publishing the names of the institutions was aimed at promoting transparency and compelling the affected schools to immediately refund the students’ money.

The institutions listed include Adamawa State University, Mubi; Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; Federal College of Education, Yola; Kaduna State Polytechnic; Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma; University of Education, Akamkpa; University of Uyo; Yobe State University, Damaturu; Federal University, Lafia; Modibbo Adama University, Yola; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Federal College of Forestry, Plateau State; Federal University of Education, Pankshin; Federal Polytechnic, Nyak; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Federal University of Education, Zaria; Imo State University, Owerri; Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin; Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti; Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Kano State College of Education and Preliminary Studies; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki; Federal College of Education, Katsina; College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia; University of Ilorin; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; University of Ilesa; Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences, Ilese-Ijebu; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Delta State University, Abraka; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti; Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; University of Calabar; Rivers State University; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt; Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe; and Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic.

The action by NANS follows a recent public notice issued by NELFUND, which condemned what it described as unethical practices by some tertiary institutions.

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In the statement signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND expressed concern that some institutions had delayed or refused to refund students whose tuition fees had already been paid before the Fund released payments on their behalf. The agency also raised concerns over arbitrary increases in institutional charges.

According to NELFUND, the Student Loan Scheme introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu was created to remove financial barriers preventing qualified Nigerians from accessing higher education, rather than creating additional financial burdens for students and their families.

The Fund disclosed that it had commenced engagements with the affected institutions and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that eligible students receive their refunds promptly while also addressing concerns over excessive or unjustified charges.

The Student Loan Scheme, established under the Student Loans Act, began disbursing interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions in 2024 and has since paid billions of naira in tuition and upkeep support to eligible beneficiaries nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed reports alleging that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed the suspension of the recruitment of newly employed staff at NELFUND.

The ministry’s reaction followed media reports quoting NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, as saying that the minister ordered an embargo on employment after dozens of workers were recruited in January 2025.

However, credible sources within the ministry described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that no approval was granted by the NELFUND Board for the recruitment exercise.

According to the sources, the agency’s management neither reviewed nor approved any recruitment plan before the exercise was carried out.

They further disclosed that NELFUND Board Chairman, Jim Ovia, had earlier directed that the recruitment process be halted after a management meeting in Lagos, maintaining that the exercise was unnecessary at the time.

The sources also revealed that the chairman instructed that individuals recruited through the exercise should not be placed on the organisation’s payroll pending a comprehensive review of staffing levels and organisational structure.

Describing the current staffing situation at NELFUND as alarming, ministry officials claimed that nearly 80 per cent of the agency’s workforce is redundant.

According to the officials, the issue was discussed extensively during a recent management meeting where senior leaders agreed that urgent reforms were required to address the redundancy challenge before additional employees could be engaged.

The ministry maintained that the intervention by the Minister of Education was aimed at ensuring transparency, regulatory compliance and the long-term sustainability of the agency.

Despite the ongoing controversy over recruitment, NELFUND continues to implement the Federal Government’s Student Loan Scheme, providing interest-free tuition and upkeep loans to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions as part of efforts to expand access to higher education.

NANS exposes 43 institutions over alleged failure to refund NELFUND tuition fees