By Esther Olaoluwa |
Parents and guardians of beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in Kaduna State have called for greater transparency in the administration of the student loan scheme, urging the Fund to improve communication with beneficiaries, address delays in disbursements and strengthen public confidence in its operations.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns over delays in the payment of monthly upkeep allowances and tuition refunds, even as stakeholders acknowledged the scheme’s contribution to expanding access to tertiary education for financially disadvantaged students.
Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the parents described NELFUND as a significant intervention that has eased the financial burden on many households and enabled more students to pursue higher education despite prevailing economic challenges.
However, they said delays in the release of upkeep allowances and refunds have created uncertainty for many beneficiaries who depend on the support to meet their educational and living expenses.
Parents Call for Greater Transparency
One of the parents urged NELFUND to expedite the payment of outstanding monthly allowances and refunds, noting that several approved beneficiaries had yet to receive the financial support.
According to her, prolonged delays have affected students who rely on the allowances for accommodation, transportation, feeding and other essential expenses.
Another parent, Alhaji Hamisu Abubakar, whose two children are students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, called on NELFUND to notify beneficiaries whenever tuition payments are made directly to their institutions.
He said such notifications would enable students to verify payments made on their behalf, improve accountability and eliminate uncertainty surrounding tuition disbursements.
Abubakar also urged the Fund to publish details of payments made to beneficiary institutions and organise regular media briefings to provide updates on the implementation of the student loan programme.
He further appealed for an upward review of the monthly upkeep allowance from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000, citing inflation and the rising cost of living.
Similarly, Malam Sani Aliyu recommended that NELFUND introduce a dedicated student wallet system, similar to the model used by the Kaduna State Scholarship Board, to facilitate payment of registration fees and other approved educational expenses.
According to him, the initiative would improve efficiency, minimise opportunities for fund diversion and strengthen transparency in the administration of the scheme.
Students Seek Timely Disbursement
Beneficiaries of the programme also acknowledged the impact of the initiative while calling for improvements in its implementation.
A student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Adamu Mohammed, described NELFUND as a transformative intervention that has expanded access to higher education for students from low-income families.
He said the programme has reduced financial pressure on many students by ensuring that economic hardship does not prevent qualified candidates from pursuing tertiary education.
Mohammed, however, appealed to the Federal Government to address bottlenecks delaying the payment of monthly upkeep allowances to beneficiaries.
Applications Continue to Rise
Providing an update on the implementation of the scheme, the NELFUND Desk Officer at the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Malam Abdullahi Bawan-Allah, said participation in the programme has continued to increase.
He disclosed that the institution recorded 10,452 loan applications during the 2025/2026 academic session, with applicants requesting more than ₦503.21 million. According to him, 9,920 students successfully received disbursements.
Bawan-Allah said that during the 2024/2025 academic session, 6,297 students applied for loans worth over ₦249.81 million, while 5,806 beneficiaries received funding.
He added that in the 2023/2024 academic session, 1,416 students applied for loans valued at more than ₦61.03 million, with 1,415 applicants benefiting from the programme.
According to him, the steady increase in applications reflects growing awareness of the student loan initiative and increasing confidence in its potential to support access to higher education.
KASU Students Raise Similar Concerns
Meanwhile, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of Kaduna State University (KASU) also expressed concern over delays in the payment of tuition refunds and monthly upkeep allowances.
The SRC President, Sumayya Sani, said the council had received numerous complaints from affected students, adding that no beneficiary at the institution had confirmed receiving the delayed payments despite reports that students in some other universities had begun receiving theirs.
She disclosed that more than 60 per cent of students registered under the NELFUND scheme at KASU had reported delays in receiving refunds and monthly stipends.
According to Sani, many students who paid their tuition fees before NELFUND disbursed funds to the university are still awaiting reimbursement despite assurances that the refunds would be processed.
The stakeholders urged NELFUND to build on the gains of the student loan programme by improving transparency, strengthening communication with beneficiaries and ensuring the timely disbursement of approved funds to support students’ access to higher education.
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