Allow NELFUND Applicants Sit for Exams, FG Directs Tertiary Institutions 

The federal government has directed all tertiary institutions across the country to allow students who have applied for the newly launched student loan programme to sit for their examinations, even if their tuition fees are yet to be fully paid.

This directive, which was communicated by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, aims to protect students from academic setbacks due to delays in loan disbursements.

The move follows widespread concern that many students risk missing exams despite being eligible loan applicants under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.

To address systemic challenges in the loan administration process, the government has also set up a high-level committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), NELFUND, and university stakeholders.

The committee is expected to streamline and standardize fee structures and payment timelines, ensuring greater transparency and smoother loan processing.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa emphasized the need for institutions to cooperate with the ongoing reforms, noting that variations in fee structures especially service charges were a major cause of discrepancies between actual student fees and the amounts approved by NELFUND.

He urged universities and other institutions to clearly itemize their charges and update their systems to align with national standards.

“We understand that delays in loan disbursement can affect students’ ability to meet financial obligations. However, no student should be punished for circumstances beyond their control. We call on all institutions to grant full exam access to loan applicants,” Alausa stated.

The government launched the student loan programme in April 2025 to improve access to tertiary education and reduce the financial burden on Nigerian students. Interested students are encouraged to visit the official NELFUND portal at nelf.gov.ng to apply and monitor the status of their applications.

The directive has been met with support from student unions and education advocates, who see it as a timely intervention to safeguard academic continuity and promote equal opportunity in education.