Students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Northwest University Kano have appealed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to fast-track the payment of outstanding monthly upkeep allowances, saying the delays are affecting their studies and daily living.
The students, who spoke with newsmen, said many beneficiaries have not received the ₦20,000 monthly stipend for several months despite repeated assurances from the agency.
President of the BUK Students’ Union Government, Abdulmudalib Kalli-Sherrif, said about 30,000 students of the university are enrolled in the NELFUND scheme, which provides tuition support and monthly upkeep allowances.
He attributed the backlog of about four months to a mismatch between the university’s academic calendar and NELFUND’s payment schedule.
According to him, the students’ union has remained in contact with NELFUND, which has updated its payment system and assured beneficiaries that the outstanding allowances would be paid soon.
Kalli-Sherrif disclosed that some students had already started receiving payments, with Batch A beneficiaries recently credited with ₦20,000, while others are expected to receive theirs in subsequent batches.
He praised the Federal Government for introducing the student loan scheme, describing it as a major intervention that has eased the financial burden on thousands of students.
At Northwest University Kano, students also expressed dissatisfaction over the delayed payment of upkeep allowances.
A beneficiary, Haruna Sani, said he received ₦20,000 last week but was still expecting payments covering about two months.
He urged NELFUND to clear the outstanding allowances and suggested that tuition payments be made directly to students so they can settle their school fees promptly. He also called for quicker refunds for students who paid their fees before benefiting from the scheme.
Another beneficiary, Hussaina Bashir of the Department of Educational Foundations, said the delay had made it difficult for her to purchase books and other academic materials.
She appealed to the Federal Government to ensure regular payment of the monthly stipend to reduce the financial challenges facing students.
Northwest University SUG spokesperson, Umar Ibrahim, said the union had received complaints from students across several faculties, adding that the delays had also affected commercial activities around the campus as students now had less money to spend.
He urged the government to speed up the release of outstanding allowances and review the ₦20,000 monthly stipend to reflect current economic realities.
The university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed that students had lodged complaints but clarified that the institution has no role in disbursing the allowances.
He explained that NELFUND pays beneficiaries directly into their bank accounts and that the university only becomes aware of payments after students receive them.
Musa said the institution had contacted relevant authorities and was informed that the delay resulted from the late release of funds by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for onward disbursement by NELFUND.
Parents of beneficiaries also commended the Federal Government for introducing the student loan programme but called for better coordination between NELFUND and tertiary institutions to ensure prompt payment of allowances and faster refunds of tuition fees already paid by students.
One parent, Zulai Abubakar, said many families borrowed money to pay school fees before their children were admitted into the scheme and appealed for immediate reimbursement.
Another parent, Muyideen Akorede, described the initiative as laudable but warned that delays in refunds and upkeep payments could undermine its objectives.
Fatima Sani, also a parent, said many students rely on the monthly allowance for transportation, feeding and study materials, urging the government to address the delays to ensure the programme achieves its intended impact.
