By John Umeh
There was a wave of relief and celebration across Nigerian tertiary institutions this week as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) officially resumed the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances nationwide. The long-awaited restart comes after a brief suspension that left many beneficiaries anxious and financially strained.
The agency, which is responsible for managing and disbursing student loans and upkeep support under the Higher Education Access and Funding Act, confirmed in a statement released Tuesday that all eligible students who had completed their documentation and verification processes would begin receiving payments directly into their accounts within the next few days.
Background: Temporary Suspension and Rising Concerns
NELFUND had earlier paused disbursements for routine audits and system upgrades aimed at improving transparency and efficiency. However, the pause—lasting nearly a month—sparked anxiety across campuses as thousands of students depended on the monthly stipends for feeding, accommodation, transportation, and academic needs.
Several student unions issued public statements urging the agency to expedite the process, while advocacy groups highlighted the growing hardship among undergraduates who rely heavily on the funds, especially in light of Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
Official Statement and Assurances
In the latest update, NELFUND’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, stated that the disbursement process had been fully restored and payments were already being processed in batches. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to supporting students and ensuring no one is denied access to education due to financial difficulty.
“We appreciate the patience of our beneficiaries during the upgrade process. We can now assure students across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education that their upkeep allowances are being disbursed without delay. Our focus is on inclusivity, equity, and efficient delivery,” Dr. Sawyerr said.
Student Reaction: A Welcome Relief
From Lagos to Kano, Port Harcourt to Enugu, students took to social media to express their excitement as alert notifications began hitting their phones. Many described the resumed payments as timely, especially with the start of a new semester for most public tertiary institutions.
Sarah Udoh, a 300-level student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said:
“This money means everything to some of us. Without it, life becomes very hard. I’m just grateful it has resumed before exams.”
Ibrahim Danladi, a student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), added:
“We hope NELFUND can make this more consistent. We understand they’re doing their best, but students need stability.”
Future Plans and Reforms
NELFUND also announced that it is working on additional reforms that will automate the disbursement cycle and eliminate the need for repeated manual re-verification each semester. The agency is partnering with school portals and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to integrate real-time data systems that will ease tracking and reduce fraud.
Additionally, the agency revealed that new applications for the next batch of student upkeep support and tuition loan schemes will open in August 2025, with streamlined eligibility checks and a new mobile app for status monitoring.
As the disbursement resumes, the move has restored confidence in the student loan program introduced to improve access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on students and their families. For thousands of Nigerian students, the renewed flow of upkeep payments is not just financial aid—it’s a lifeline.
