The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-powered committee to standardise the fee payment process across universities.
The initiative, which was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, follows a closed-door meeting held in Abuja with Vice-Chancellors of federal universities and the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Dr. Alausa noted that although universities have been receiving disbursements from NELFUND without delay, inconsistencies in service charges and communication gaps have led to confusion among students regarding their financial obligations.
“The existing system is functional, but there’s room for significant improvement. We aim to refine the current structure to enhance efficiency and accountability for the benefit of both institutions and students,” the minister said.
He further clarified that contrary to reports, no fraudulent activities have been uncovered within NELFUND, dismissing earlier concerns raised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The newly established committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Education, NELFUND, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and university administrators. Its primary mandate is to harmonise the terminology used for student fees and to establish a transparent framework for disbursements and notifications.
“While the actual fee amounts may vary by institution, the terms used to describe charges must be uniform. This will help students understand what they’re paying for and ensure NELFUND’s disbursements align accurately,” Alausa explained.
He added that universities will now be required to publish all service charges ahead of time, reducing discrepancies and improving trust in the loan system.
The committee has been given a three-week deadline to submit its report, after which the federal government will release unified guidelines for fee payments across all tertiary institutions in the country.
This effort forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to make higher education more accessible, transparent, and student-centered.
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