NELFUND Glitch Delays Student Allowances

NELFUND beneficiaries are facing delays in receiving monthly upkeep payments after a technical issue affected the agency’s disbursement system.

Thousands of students benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) have been left waiting for their upkeep allowances following a technical problem on the agency’s portal. The disruption has affected payment processing, with many beneficiaries reporting that they have not received support funds for about two months.

A source within NELFUND confirmed that the agency is working to fix the issue and reconcile affected transactions. The source explained that the challenge resulted from a system glitch but did not provide further details on when payments would resume.

The delay has caused concern among students in various tertiary institutions who depend on the allowances for essential needs such as feeding, transportation and accommodation. Many beneficiaries say the funds are important for managing daily expenses while studying.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also raised concerns over the situation. NANS President Babatunde Akinteye said the organisation had received several complaints from students across the country regarding the stalled payments.

Akinteye urged NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, the Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance Wale Edun to intervene and ensure outstanding allowances are paid. He also requested clear information about the cause of the disruption and a timeline for resolving the issue.

Although NANS warned that students could consider peaceful action if the delay continues, the association said its main priority is restoring payments quickly.

The NELFUND student loan programme, created under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, provides interest-free loans and upkeep support to eligible students in public tertiary institutions. The latest system challenge adds to previous concerns about verification, applications and payment timelines.

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