The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has warned tertiary institutions accused of withholding tuition refunds meant for students under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, saying it is already engaging affected schools to ensure they comply.
In a public notice released on Monday, the agency also criticised the arbitrary increase in tuition and other institutional charges, describing the practice as contrary to the purpose of the student loan programme.
According to NELFUND, some institutions have either delayed or refused to refund students who paid their school fees before the Fund later settled the same tuition directly with the institutions.
The agency said the student loan initiative was introduced to make higher education more accessible, not to create additional financial pressure for students.
To address the issue, NELFUND said it has begun discussions with affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure eligible students receive their refunds while also promoting fairness and transparency in school charges.
The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students' interests and maintaining public confidence in the scheme.
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The warning comes amid increasing complaints from beneficiaries who claim their institutions have failed to refund tuition fees already paid, despite receiving payments from NELFUND on their behalf.
The Federal Government's student loan scheme allows NELFUND to pay tuition fees directly to public tertiary institutions, while approved upkeep allowances are paid into students' personal bank accounts. Since the programme began, the agency has repeatedly reminded institutions that students who paid their fees before NELFUND's intervention are entitled to full refunds once the tuition is paid by the Fund.
