NELFUND takes action against universities over tuition refunds and fee hikes

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has denounced what it called unethical conduct by certain tertiary institutions that allegedly withheld tuition refunds from students and increased fees arbitrarily, even though they benefit from the federal student loan scheme.

The Fund issued a public notice on Monday through its director of strategic communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, stating that it had received reports of institutions refusing or delaying refunds to students who had already paid tuition fees before NELFUND disbursed the same amounts directly to the schools.

NELFUND also warned that arbitrary hikes in tuition and other institutional charges by some higher education institutions undermine the objectives of the student loan programme.

The agency emphasized that the Student Loan Scheme, launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, was designed to remove financial barriers to higher education, not to impose new financial burdens on students.

According to NELFUND, it has begun engaging with the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that all eligible students receive their refunds without further delay.

It also said that measures are being taken to keep tuition and other institutional charges fair, transparent, and aligned with the scheme’s objectives.

“NELFUND remains committed to protecting the interests of students and preserving the integrity of this landmark national intervention,” the agency stated.

The Fund reiterated its determination to uphold the credibility of the student loan programme and to prevent beneficiaries from being deprived of the full benefits of the federal government’s education financing initiative through exploitative practices by institutions.