BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised concerns over reports that some tertiary institutions are delaying or refusing to refund students whose tuition fees had already been paid before the Fund disbursed their education loans.
In a statement signed by the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi on Monday, NELFUND stressed that the Student Loan Scheme, introduced under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was created to eliminate financial barriers to higher education and not to impose additional financial burdens on students.
She warned that such practices undermine the objectives of the Student Loan Scheme.
According to her, the Fund is engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that eligible students receive the refunds due to them.
Oseyemi Oluwatuyi added that the discussions are also aimed at ensuring that tuition fees and other institutional charges remain fair, transparent and consistent with the objectives of the Scheme.
“NELFUND is engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that due refunds are made to eligible students and that institutional charges remain fair, transparent, and consistent with the objectives of the Scheme,” the statement said.
Reaffirming its commitment to the successful implementation of the programme, NELFUND pledged to protect the interests of students and safeguard the integrity of what it described as a landmark national intervention in expanding access to higher education.
