A job offer is usually the start of a new journey. But for dozens of Nigerians recruited by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), that journey has remained on hold for nearly 18 months.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, has explained that the affected workers are yet to resume duty because the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed the agency to suspend further implementation of the recruitment exercise.
Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH on Monday, Sawyerr said the recruitment was carried out in good faith to support NELFUND’s dual mandate of providing student loans and promoting skills acquisition before the employment embargo was introduced.
“NELFUND has a dual mandate: academic and skills acquisition. Those who were recruited but have yet to assume duties were recruited in good faith in the fulfilment of that mandate. There is no doubt about this.
“But the Minister of Education, who is our supervising minister, asked us to put an embargo on employment after the recruitment exercise. This is the simple situation,” he said.
He noted that the agency could not override the minister’s directive, adding that the successful applicants would be contacted once the embargo is lifted.
The explanation comes days after The PUNCH exclusively reported that dozens of successful applicants recruited in January 2025 had remained in limbo despite receiving employment letters and completing all required documentation.
Documents obtained by The PUNCH showed that the affected workers received their letters of engagement on January 14, 2025, and completed the necessary employment documentation by February 3, 2025. However, nearly 18 months later, they are yet to receive any official communication on when they will assume duty.
The prolonged delay prompted the affected workers, under the umbrella of New NELFUND Employees Awaiting Resumption, to petition key government officials, including the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships and Higher Education Financing, Ifeoluwa Ehindero.
Ehindero had earlier told The PUNCH that the committee would intervene in the matter.
The delay has left many of the successful applicants in uncertainty after some reportedly resigned previous jobs or made personal and financial commitments in anticipation of resuming work at the agency.
NELFUND was established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act to provide interest-free loans to eligible Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.
The Fund began operations in 2024 as one of the Federal Government’s flagship education reforms aimed at expanding access to higher education through sustainable student financing.
Since becoming operational, the agency has processed and disbursed billions of naira in tuition and upkeep loans to students across public tertiary institutions, while applications continue to rise nationwide.
The 2025 recruitment exercise was designed to strengthen the agency’s workforce to support both its student loan operations and expanding skills acquisition programme. However, the ministerial embargo has effectively placed the appointments on hold, leaving the affected employees awaiting further direction from the Federal Government.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.