REPS MANDATE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS TO REFUND TUITION FEES TO THE BENEFICIARIES OF NELFUND LOANS
28-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The House of Representatives has mandated all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to immediately refund fees students who paid their tuition fees before their Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND loan disbursement.
In an urgent motion of Public importance sponsored by the member representing Ikara Kubau Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi, the Green Chamber noted that the disbursement becomes necessary to ensure compliance with the Student Loan Access to Higher education act 2024.
Mr. Abdullahi stressed the need to investigate the Alleged Unethical Practices in the Disbursement of Student Loans.
According to Mr. Abdullahi, the reports of mismanagement and lack of proper verification, upload of inflated school fees on the NELFUND portal were worrisome.
“Concerned about reports of mismanagement and lack of proper verification, including instances where tertiary institutions upload inflated school fees on the NELFUND portal, cases of final-year students receiving loans after graduation and disbarments made to tertiary institutions even after students have fully paid their tuition fees to avoid delays”
While commending the Federal Government for some significant progress made in the programme so far, the House called for transparency accountability and equitable access in the disbursement of the loans.
“Notes that significant progress has been made in the programme so far, with over half a million applicants and the disbursement of over N54 billion to beneficiaries across the country”
“Also aware that the National Orientation Agency and NELFUND have uncovered that some institutions received loan disbursements but failed to notify beneficiaries or update financial records, which is a violation of the NELFUND Guidelines, raising concerns over transparency and accountability”
Adopting the motion, the House urged NELFUND to implement advanced IT solutions to enhance verification and streamline processes within the system.
The House also urged NELFUND to report to relevant authorities and sanction any institution found in violation of the Act or Guidelines.