The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has strongly condemned reports that some tertiary institutions are delaying or outright refusing to refund students who had already paid their tuition fees prior to receiving NELFUND loan disbursements.

In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, also expressed grave concern over separate allegations that some institutions have arbitrarily increased their tuition fees and other institutional charges.

Oluwatuyi emphasized that the student loan scheme, a flagship initiative introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was specifically established to break down financial barriers to higher education rather than creating fresh financial burdens for students.

To address these challenges, the Director revealed that NELFUND has already initiated discussions with the affected institutions and regulatory authorities.

The interventions are aimed at ensuring that eligible students promptly receive their refunds and that institutional charges remain fair, transparent, and aligned with the core objectives of the loan scheme.

Reaffirming NELFUND’s commitment to safeguarding student interests and preserving the integrity of the initiative, Oluwatuyi urged all participating institutions to uphold the program’s goals and ensure that students fully benefit from the intervention without administrative bottlenecks.