The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has warned tertiary institutions against withholding tuition refunds due to students or imposing arbitrary fee increases that could undermine the objectives of the government's student loan programme.
In a statement, NELFUND reiterated that institutions participating in the scheme must comply with established guidelines governing tuition payments and student refunds. The agency stressed that any school found engaging in practices that disadvantage beneficiaries could face appropriate regulatory action.
According to NELFUND, some institutions have reportedly failed to refund students who had already paid their tuition before loan disbursements were made directly to their schools. The fund emphasized that such refunds belong to the affected students and should be processed promptly in line with the programme's operational framework.
The agency also cautioned institutions against introducing unjustified or excessive fee increases that could place additional financial burdens on students. It noted that the student loan initiative was established to improve access to higher education, not to encourage exploitative pricing practices.
NELFUND urged university administrators, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other participating institutions to maintain transparency and accountability in handling tuition payments. It added that collaboration between educational institutions and the fund is essential to ensuring the programme delivers its intended benefits.
Students who encounter challenges relating to tuition refunds or suspected irregularities were encouraged to report such cases through NELFUND's official complaint channels for investigation and resolution.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the agency's position, saying strict enforcement of the guidelines will help protect students' interests and strengthen confidence in the student loan programme.
As the implementation of the education loan scheme continues nationwide, NELFUND reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring fairness, transparency, and equal access to quality higher education for eligible Nigerian students
