The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has published the names of 39 tertiary institutions it says are yet to refund students who paid their tuition fees before receiving disbursements from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, urged the affected institutions to immediately refund eligible students, noting that the schools had already received tuition payments from NELFUND on their behalf.
According to him, the publication of the list is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability while ensuring that affected students receive their refunds without further delay.
“The following institutions have received NELFUND tuition payments on behalf of eligible students but are yet to refund students who had already paid their tuition fees before the NELFUND disbursement,” Akinteye said.
He added that students should not continue to bear unnecessary financial burdens because of administrative delays.
Among the institutions listed are Adamawa State University, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Federal College of Education, Yola, Kaduna State Polytechnic, Ogun State Institute of Technology, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, University of Education, Akamkpa, University of Uyo, Yobe State University, Federal University Lafia and Modibbo Adama University.
Others include Nasarawa State University, Federal College of Forestry, Federal University of Education, Pankshin, Federal Polytechnic Nyak, Plateau State University, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Imo State University, Lagos State University of Education, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Kano State College of Education and Preliminary Studies, University of Nigeria, Ebonyi State University, Federal College of Education, Katsina, College of Agriculture Science and Technology and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture.
Also listed are the University of Ilesa, Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Delta State University, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ekiti State University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, University of Calabar, Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe and Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic.
Akinteye called on the affected institutions to expedite the refund process, stressing that students who had settled their tuition fees before NELFUND released payments should not suffer avoidable financial hardship.
The student body said the publication of the list was intended to ensure accountability and prompt compliance by the institutions.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, which pays approved tuition fees directly to tertiary institutions on behalf of eligible students while providing upkeep allowances.
In recent months, concerns have emerged over delays in refunding students whose tuition fees were paid twice after they had already settled their fees before NELFUND made payments to their institutions.
NANS maintained that while the student loan scheme has expanded access to higher education financing, institutions must promptly refund affected students to sustain public confidence in the programme.
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