NELFUND Warns Tertiary Institutions Against Withholding Tuition Refunds

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has expressed concern over reports that some tertiary institutions are delaying or refusing to refund tuition fees to students who paid their school fees before receiving disbursements under the NELFUND Student Loan Scheme.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND stressed that the Student Loan Scheme, introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was designed to eliminate financial obstacles to higher education rather than create additional financial burdens for students.

The Fund also raised concerns over what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition fees and other institutional charges by some higher institutions, warning that such practices run contrary to the objectives of the student loan programme.

According to the statement, NELFUND is already engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that students who had paid their tuition before their loans were disbursed receive the refunds they are entitled to.

The statement read:

“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.”

The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the interests of Nigerian students while ensuring that institutions comply with the principles of fairness, transparency and accountability in implementing the Student Loan Scheme.