The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Tinubu to impose sanctions on tertiary institutions that are withholding refunds from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and inflating tuition fees. In a statement issued on Tuesday, NANS President Comrade Babatunde Akinteye said the actions of these schools undermine the federal government's efforts to make education accessible.
NANS Alleges Widespread Non-Compliance
According to NANS, over 50 public and private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have failed to remit NELFUND refunds to eligible students. The refunds, which are part of the loan scheme, are meant to cover excess tuition charges or administrative fees that were collected beyond approved limits. The association claims that these institutions have collectively withheld an estimated N2.3 billion in rightful refunds.
“We have compiled a list of institutions that have refused to comply with NELFUND directives. Some have deliberately delayed refunds, while others have increased tuition fees knowing that students will rely on loans,” Akinteye said. “We call on President Tinubu to wield the big stick and sanction these schools, including possible withdrawal of accreditation or access to TETFund grants.”
Impact on Students
NANS highlighted that the refund delays have forced many students to drop out or accumulate debt. The association estimates that at least 15,000 students are directly affected. “Many of our members have been unable to continue their education because the refunds were not processed. Some have had to take high-interest loans to pay inflated fees,” Akinteye added.
Calls for Presidential Intervention
The student body is demanding that President Tinubu intervene personally to ensure compliance. They suggest that the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) be directed to monitor NELFUND implementations. “We understand the government is trying to ease the burden, but bad actors in the education sector are sabotaging these efforts. Sanctions must be swift and severe,” the NANS president stressed.
Government Response
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Education, Dr. Adebayo Ogunlade, acknowledged receipt of NANS’ appeal and promised to review the allegations. “The president is committed to education financing reforms. We will investigate these claims and take appropriate action,” Ogunlade said in a brief response.
NELFUND management has also been asked to submit a full report on the compliance levels of all participating institutions. The agency earlier announced that over N10 billion had been disbursed to students since the scheme’s launch, but acknowledged challenges in recovering refunds from some schools.
