The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has condemned alleged unethical practices by some tertiary institutions, including the refusal or delay in refunding students whose tuition fees had been paid before the disbursement of student loans.
The agency also expressed concern over reports that some institutions have arbitrarily increased tuition fees and other charges, actions it said undermine the objectives of the student loan scheme.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the scheme, introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was designed to eliminate financial barriers to higher education rather than impose additional burdens on students.
According to her, NELFUND is already engaging the affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure that eligible students receive refunds for tuition fees paid before loan disbursements.
She added that the engagement is also aimed at ensuring that tuition fees and other institutional charges remain fair, transparent and consistent with the objectives of the scheme.
Oluwatuyi reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to protecting students’ interests and safeguarding the integrity of the student loan programme.
She urged participating institutions to uphold the goals of the initiative and ensure that beneficiaries fully enjoy the intended benefits of the intervention.
