Students from no fewer than 23 public universities and polytechnics have lamented the delayed disbursement of their approved institutional loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as deadlines for tuition payment and examinations draw near.

President Bola Tinubu signed the Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act into law on April 3, 2024, to provide sustainable higher education funding for Nigerian students.

Since the Fund?s commencement, several students across tertiary institutions have benefited. As of February 3, 2025, NELFUND reported receiving 364,042 student loan applications and disbursing N20,074,050,000 for institutional fees, benefiting 192,906 students.

Another N12,818,960,000 was allocated to 169,114 students, with each receiving a N20,000 monthly stipend for upkeep.

However, in response to NELFUND?s verified posts on X during the week, students from several institutions?including the University of Nigeria Nsukka; Obafemi Awolowo University; Federal University, Lokoja; Ladoke Akintola University; and others in Northern Nigeria?expressed frustration over the non-disbursement of their approved loans.

Many lamented that their school portals were closing in a matter of days, with examinations fast approaching.

On Saturday, Musty Jr (@JrMusty58254) wrote, ?I am a University of Maiduguri student. I applied and was verified since August, yet I have received nothing from this initiative. Please, do something for us before next Wednesday. I am in serious financial crisis!?

Similarly, Orji Oyidiya Chukwu (@OyidiyaOrji) raised concerns on Sunday, tweeting, ?@NELFUND, my brother hasn?t received either the upkeep money or the institutional fees, and his school (UNIZIK) is closing its portal on Friday, February 14. Please, help!?

By Monday, more students voiced their grievances. Stephen Ayobami from the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi, wrote, ?@NELFUND, please remember us. We applied since May last year and have been verified, but there?s been no approval or disbursement.

?Many students are stranded?our school portal is closing this week, and exams start on the 10th of next month!?

At Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano, the Students? Union Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Nura, issued a circular on Tuesday, saying that failure to pay tuition fees before the deadline could cause severe issues for students.

Confirming the non-disbursement, Abba Yusuf from the same institution wrote, ?Why haven?t you disbursed funds for Aliko Dangote University students? Both upkeep and institutional fees remain unpaid. We have been verified since August 2024, yet not a single payment has been made!?

Similarly, Bryan (@Chime69.23h), a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, stated, ?I have been verified since June 2024, yet I haven?t received any disbursement?neither institutional fees nor upkeep. My school has started a new academic session, and I have to pay my fees!?

Some Polytechnic students also raised concerns. Oladiran Kayode pointed out that several students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, had yet to receive both their institutional and upkeep loans.

Meanwhile, Kolapo James Ayomi (@kolapojames01) from LAUTECH lamented, ?Tests and exams have begun, yet without paying our tuition fees, we can?t register our courses!?

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a NELFUND official, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, blamed schools for the delay in tuition fee disbursements.

The source said, ?Most times, these issues don?t originate from us. Once we approve the payments, we send the students? data back to the schools for verification.

?The schools are then required to confirm the validity of the students and the tuition fees before we proceed. However, many institutions fail to respond promptly. We have to keep sending emails and reminders.? (Saturday PUNCH)

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