NANS names 43 schools over NELFUND refund scandal

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused 43 tertiary institutions of failing to refund tuition fees to students after receiving duplicate payments from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, released the list of the affected institutions, alleging that the schools collected tuition directly from students before later receiving NELFUND disbursements for the same beneficiaries without reimbursing the students.

He said the institutions, which include universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country’s six geopolitical zones, were published to compel transparency and ensure that affected students receive immediate refunds.

Among the institutions listed are Adamawa State University, Mubi; Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; Federal College of Education, Yola; Kaduna State Polytechnic; Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma; University of Education, Akamkpa; University of Uyo; Yobe State University; Federal University, Lafia; Modibbo Adama University; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; and the Federal College of Forestry, Plateau State.

Others include the Federal University of Education, Pankshin; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Federal University of Education, Zaria; Imo State University; Lagos State University of Education; Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology; Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Kano State College of Education and Preliminary Studies; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Ebonyi State University; University of Ilorin; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Ekiti State University; University of Calabar; Rivers State University; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education; and Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic.

The allegations followed a recent public advisory by NELFUND, which condemned what it described as unethical practices by some institutions.

In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Fund expressed concern that some schools were refusing or delaying refunds to students whose tuition had already been settled before NELFUND paid the same fees.

NELFUND also accused some institutions of imposing arbitrary charges on students, warning that the student loan scheme was created to remove financial barriers to higher education rather than increase the burden on beneficiaries.

The agency said it had begun engaging affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure students receive refunds and that institutions comply with the objectives of the Student Loans Act.

The student loan programme, introduced under the Student Loans Act, commenced disbursement of interest-free tuition and upkeep loans to eligible students in public tertiary institutions in 2024.

Separately, the Federal Ministry of Education has denied claims that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, halted the recruitment of staff at NELFUND.

The ministry said reports linking the minister to an employment embargo were inaccurate, insisting that the recruitment exercise lacked the necessary approval of the Fund’s board.

According to ministry sources, NELFUND’s management neither obtained board approval nor formally considered the recruitment before it was carried out.

The sources further claimed that the Fund’s Chairman, Jim Ovia, had earlier directed that the recruitment be suspended and instructed that those recruited should not be placed on the payroll pending a review of the agency’s staffing structure.

The ministry also maintained that NELFUND is currently overstaffed, with officials estimating that about 80 per cent of its workforce is redundant, making additional recruitment unnecessary at this stage.

The clarification followed remarks by NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, who had reportedly said the minister directed the agency to suspend recruitment after dozens of employees were engaged in January 2025. The affected recruits are said to have remained without resumption for more than a year after completing documentation.