NANS Sends Warning to Schools Over Delayed NELFUND Refunds to Students

Students who paid their school fees before receiving approval and disbursement under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme are demanding their money back, with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) calling on tertiary institutions to release the refunds without further delay.

The NANS Zone C made the demand as it raised concerns over students who settled their tuition from personal or family funds before the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) subsequently paid the same fees to their institutions.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, the NANS Zone C Coordinator, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said affected students should not continue to bear the financial burden after their institutions had received the corresponding payments from NELFUND.

The student body said the money being withheld belongs to the students who initially paid their fees and should be returned to them.

The development is particularly important for students and families who borrowed money or used their limited savings to settle school charges while waiting for their NELFUND applications to be processed.

NELFUND had earlier acknowledged complaints involving institutions that delayed or refused to refund students whose tuition had already been paid before the Fund disbursed money to the schools. The agency said it was engaging affected institutions and relevant authorities to ensure eligible students received the refunds due to them.

NANS calls for action

NANS Zone C said institutions should resolve outstanding refunds rather than leave students waiting indefinitely.

The association also criticised what it described as excessive and unjustified institutional charges, arguing that students who are already facing financial pressure should not be subjected to additional costs.

The latest demand comes after NANS had previously raised concerns about unpaid NELFUND refunds at several tertiary institutions across the country.

The students’ body also called for stronger attention to students’ welfare, including improved campus security and better implementation of Students’ Union Government elections across institutions in the North-Central region.

Babatunde further urged relevant development authorities to work with NANS on education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, research, innovation and youth empowerment.

What affected students should know

Students who paid their fees before their NELFUND loan was disbursed should check their institution’s official refund procedure and keep evidence of the original payment.

Some institutions have already introduced specific refund processes for affected students. For example, the University of Ibadan opened an online refund process in August 2026 for students who had paid their fees before their NELFUND loans were approved.

However, refund procedures may differ from one institution to another, so students should rely on official notices from their schools for specific instructions.

The issue has become an important part of the implementation of the student loan scheme, as students who initially paid their fees should not be left out after NELFUND subsequently settles the same institutional charges.

NELFUND’s stated position is that the student loan scheme is intended to reduce financial barriers to higher education, rather than create additional financial pressure for beneficiaries.