NELFUND Portal Glitch Delays Student Allowance Payments

A technical glitch in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) portal has resulted in a two-month delay in the disbursement of monthly upkeep allowances for thousands of beneficiaries. Sources within NELFUND confirmed that the agency is currently addressing the reconciliation issues affecting transaction processing.

This delay has sparked complaints from students across various tertiary institutions, raising concerns about their ability to meet basic living expenses. Nan Babatunde Akintey, president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, expressed anxiety over the situation, emphasizing that the delays undermine the primary objective of the student loan scheme, which is to provide financial relief.

Akintey has called for intervention from key officials, including Akintund Sawyerr, the managing director of NELFUND, and Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, to ensure that outstanding allowances are paid promptly.

The NELFUND was established following the enactment of the Student Loan Access Higher Education Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, to support students from low-income backgrounds.