Nigerian students lament delay in NELFUND upkeep allowance

Nigerian students who are recipients of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) have voiced frustration over the prolonged delay in receiving their monthly upkeep allowance, which has led to financial strain and disrupted their studies. According to reports from Campus Reporter, some students last received the ₦20,000 stipend in April, while others were only able to access their May payments by late July. As of Wednesday, 22 July, certain students still had not received the May and June stipends, leaving them in a precarious financial position. Lukman Kamaldeen, a student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS), stated that he received his May stipend on 17 July but had yet to see the June payment by 22 July. Similarly, another student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), mentioned that he received his May stipend on 20 July. These delays have created uncertainty among students, many of whom are relying on the allowance to cover basic necessities such as food and transportation. The upkeep allowance is part of the broader NELFUND program, a government initiative designed to alleviate the financial pressures faced by students in public tertiary institutions. Alongside tuition loans, the program provides monthly stipends to assist beneficiaries in managing their living expenses during their studies. However, the current backlog in payments has raised concerns among students, who feel the program’s promise is being undermined. At IBBUL, students have shared how the delay has impacted their daily lives. Joy Andrew, a 200-level Chemistry student, recounted borrowing money from a friend with the expectation that her upkeep allowance would arrive by the time she needed to repay the loan. Instead, she has remained in financial limbo for nearly two months, leading to tensions within her personal relationships. “I borrowed money from a friend, thinking that by this month I would receive my upkeep allowance and pay my friend back. But for almost two months now, nothing has been sent to my account,” she explained. Hadiza, another IBBUL student, noted that she had not yet received either the May or June stipends by 22 July. For these students, the lack of timely payments has forced them to seek alternative means of support, often turning to friends and family for assistance. This dependency has further strained their academic focus and overall well-being. Student representatives have taken notice of the growing discontent. Isah Daja, president of the National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS), IBBUL chapter, confirmed that the association has been actively addressing the issue. He revealed that NELFUND officials informed them that the organization was undergoing a server upgrade and reconciliation process before resuming disbursements. “The directing manager said they are just trying to upgrade their server and are almost done, and disbursement will commence any moment,” Daja said. Daja encouraged students to remain patient and continue reporting any issues related to NELFUND to the appropriate bodies. He emphasized the importance of communication and urged students not to endure the situation in silence. “They should always channel issues regarding NELFUND to the right body and not suffer in silence,” he advised. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also acknowledged the widespread nature of the problem, noting that students from multiple universities have reported similar difficulties. The association has called on the federal government and NELFUND management to expedite the resolution of the issue and ensure that all outstanding allowances are released promptly.