Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the variations stem largely from differing application timelines, institutional verification processes, and the fact that the scheme is still in its early implementation stage. He noted that while students’ concerns are valid, many of the delays are tied to procedural realities.
Sawyerr acknowledged that complaints were being received daily, but stressed that some stemmed from misunderstandings. According to him, several students who claimed long delays had in fact only recently completed their applications, adding that expectations around the speed of payment often clashed with verification requirements.
He explained that the diversity of academic calendars across tertiary institutions has made synchronising upkeep payments a complex task. With students applying at different points in the academic year, and institutions operating on varying schedules, stipends are tied to each student’s specific approval date and session timeline.
Sawyerr clarified that NELFUND does not issue retrospective payments to avoid double disbursement. Once a student initiates a new session’s application, payments for the previous session automatically stop—regardless of how many months of that session’s stipend had been received. He noted that this policy had not been widely understood, contributing to confusion.
Providing further context, he said students who apply early in a session can receive up to 12 months of stipends, while those applying midway only get what remains in the session—sometimes six months or less. The system, he insisted, must follow this structure to prevent overlapping payments.
On the matter of school fees being paid twice—by both students and the Fund—Sawyerr said institutions are encouraged to refund excess payments when delays in verification or disbursement lead students to pay upfront. He added that NELFUND cannot compel institutions to release the funds, but revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education intends to adopt a firmer policy to ensure refunds are made promptly.
Addressing speculation about inflated tuition fees, Sawyerr explained that institutions upload their official fees directly into NELFUND’s verification portal. Students, he said, can view these figures and challenge any discrepancies immediately. He acknowledged that at the programme’s launch, some schools failed to provide timely data, forcing the Fund to temporarily input placeholder figures that were later corrected.
Sawyerr assured that ongoing refinements to the student loan system would improve accuracy, reduce payment gaps, and enhance transparency. He reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to responding to concerns and strengthening the scheme as it evolves.