Thousands of beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund have been left waiting for their monthly upkeep allowances following a technical glitch that disrupted disbursements on the agency’s portal.
A source within NELFUND confirmed the development, revealing that the agency is currently working to resolve the issue and reconcile affected transactions.
“We have a system glitch, and we’re trying to reconcile,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, said.
The disclosure comes amid growing complaints from beneficiaries of the student loan scheme, many of whom rely on the monthly stipends to cover feeding, transportation, accommodation and other essential living expenses.
The delay has also drawn the attention of the National Association of Nigerian Students, which said it had received numerous complaints from students across tertiary institutions nationwide.
In a statement issued on June 22, 2026, NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, said reports available to the association indicated that the payment of upkeep allowances had been stalled for about two months.
“I have it on good authority that the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances has been on hold for the past two months, with no clear explanation or accountability from the relevant authorities,” Akinteye said.
He warned that the prolonged delay was creating anxiety among beneficiaries and undermining the core objective of the student loan programme.
“The primary objective of the NELFUND initiative is to provide relief and support to Nigerian students, particularly in the face of prevailing economic realities. Any delay that deprives students of access to these funds undermines the very purpose for which the initiative was established,” he added.
Akinteye called on NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to intervene and ensure the immediate payment of all outstanding allowances.
He also urged the authorities to provide students with a clear explanation for the disruption and a timeline for resolving the issue.
Although the student body threatened peaceful mass action if the delays persist, students remain primarily concerned about the prolonged interruption of payments that many depend on for their day-to-day survival.
Efforts to obtain an official response from NELFUND on the scope of the glitch and when payments would resume were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The latest setback comes as NELFUND continues implementing Nigeria’s student loan programme, one of the flagship education initiatives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act signed into law in June 2023 and amended in 2024, NELFUND provides interest-free loans and upkeep support to eligible students in public tertiary institutions.
Since disbursements began, hundreds of thousands of students across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have benefited from the scheme, which is aimed at expanding access to higher education and easing financial burdens on students from low-income families.
However, the programme has faced recurring implementation challenges, including verification delays, application bottlenecks and payment issues. The latest portal glitch has added to those concerns, with stakeholders urging NELFUND to resolve the problem swiftly and restore confidence in the scheme.
