Beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) are voicing their frustrations over the non-payment of their monthly upkeep allowances, which have reportedly been pending since August.
Several students shared their concerns with journalists over the weekend, stating that while their tuition fees have been settled directly with their institutions, the upkeep component intended to cover living expenses such as accommodation, feeding, and study materials has not been disbursed for the past two months.
The delay is significantly impacting their welfare and academic focus. “We depend on the monthly upkeep to survive on campus. Since August, nothing has come in, and it has been very difficult,” lamented one student.
NELFUND previously explained that the student loan scheme aims to alleviate the financial burden of higher education by covering both tuition and monthly stipends. According to the guidelines, beneficiaries are entitled to receive regular upkeep disbursements alongside institutional payments.
Despite NELFUND’s reports of steady growth in tuition settlements, with ₦92.8 billion in loans disbursed to 482,000 students, there has been no official clarification regarding the backlog in upkeep payments.
Stakeholders, including student associations, are urging NELFUND to address the issue promptly and provide transparency on the timelines for pending payments. They warn that continued delays could undermine trust in the program and exacerbate the hardships faced by undergraduates.
As of the time of this report, NELFUND had not issued a formal statement addressing the students’ concerns.
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