The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has warned tertiary institutions against delaying or refusing to refund tuition fees to students whose school charges had already been paid before the disbursement of their student loans, saying such practices undermine the objectives of the Federal Government’s Student Loan Scheme.
The Fund also frowned at what it described as arbitrary increases in tuition fees and other institutional charges by some higher institutions, stressing that the scheme was established to ease access to higher education rather than create additional financial hardship for beneficiaries.
In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said it had commenced engagements with affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that eligible students receive refunds of tuition fees paid before their loans were disbursed.
The Fund maintained that institutions participating in the scheme must keep their charges fair, transparent and consistent with the programme’s objectives, reiterating its commitment to protecting students’ interests and safeguarding the integrity of the intervention.
The statement reads, “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.”
