Technical Glitch, Portal Reconciliation Delay NELFUND Allowance Payments

A technical glitch affecting the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) portal has disrupted the payment of students’ upkeep allowances, leaving thousands of beneficiaries waiting for their funds for about two months.

A source within NELFUND confirmed that the agency was working to resolve the issue and reconcile affected transactions.

“We have a system glitch, and we’re trying to reconcile,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly.

The delay has triggered complaints from beneficiaries of the student loan scheme, many of whom rely on the monthly allowances for essential expenses such as feeding, transportation and accommodation.

The development has also drawn the attention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which said it had received several complaints from students across tertiary institutions nationwide.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NANS President Babatunde Akinteye said reports received by the association showed that upkeep allowance disbursements had been suspended for two months without a clear explanation.

“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 affecting students and weakening the purpose of the student loan initiative.

“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 body called on the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to intervene and ensure the payment of outstanding allowances.

NANS also demanded a clear explanation from the agency and a timeline for resolving the issue, warning that students may embark on peaceful protests if the delay persists.

NELFUND was established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act to provide interest-free loans and upkeep support for eligible students in public tertiary institutions.

The scheme has been described as a major intervention aimed at improving access to higher education, especially for students facing financial difficulties.

However, beneficiaries have previously raised concerns over verification challenges, application delays and payment issues.

The latest portal disruption represents another challenge for the programme, with students and stakeholders urging NELFUND to urgently address the problem and restore confidence in the initiative.