A technical issue on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) portal halted the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances, keeping thousands of beneficiaries waiting for payments for nearly two months.
A source within NELFUND confirmed the development, stating that the agency is currently trying to address the issue and reconcile the affected transactions
“We have a system glitch, and we’re trying to reconcile,” the source told our correspondent, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the subject.
The disclosure comes as beneficiaries of the student loan system continue to protest about the non-payment of monthly upkeep allowances, causing alarm among students who rely on the stipends to cover their basic living needs.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has received complaints from students across tertiary institutions about delayed payments.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NANS President Babatunde Akinteye stated that upkeep allowances have been on hold for the past two months.
“I have it on good authority that the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances has been on hold for the past two months, with no clear explanation or accountability from the relevant authorities,” Akinteye said.
He expressed concern that the delay was raising anxiety among beneficiaries and compromising the purpose of the student loan plan.
“The primary objective of the NELFUND initiative is to provide relief and support to Nigerian students, particularly in the face of prevailing economic realities. Any delay that deprives students of access to these funds undermines the very purpose for which the initiative was established,” he added.
The student leader urged NELFUND’s managing director, Akintunde Sawyerr; the minister of education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; and the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to intercede and guarantee that all outstanding allowances were paid without delay.
He also requested the authorities provide a transparent reason for the disruption and a deadline for rectifying the problem.
Although the association warned of nonviolent mass protest if the delays persisted, students’ major concern remains the extended suspension of payments, which many rely on for food, transportation, lodging, and other daily expenditures.
Attempts to gain an official statement from NELFUND on the scope of the malfunction and when payments would restart were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting this article.
The current setback occurs as NELFUND continues to administer Nigeria’s student loan program, which is one of President Bola Tinubu’s signature education initiatives. NELFUND was founded following the passage of the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, which was signed into law by Tinubu in June 2023 and then amended in 2024 to improve the foundation for implementation.
The organization was established to provide interest-free loans to qualifying students enrolled in public tertiary institutions, as well as to provide maintenance assistance to beneficiaries to enable them to meet their living expenses while continuing their education.
Since distribution began, the fund has authorized loans and allowances for hundreds of thousands of students at universities, polytechnics, and schools of education.
The program has been largely regarded as a significant initiative aimed at reducing financial barriers to higher education and enhancing access for students from low-income families.
However, the implementation process has not been without obstacles. Beneficiaries have expressed numerous concerns about verification delays, application processing difficulties, and payment deadlines.
The latest portal glitch has surfaced as yet another test for the initiative, with students and stakeholders pushing NELFUND to quickly repair the issue and restore trust in the plan.
