Abuja, Nigeria – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to embark on a nationwide protest over the alleged two-month delay in the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, expressed concern over the prolonged delay, warning that the student body may mobilise students across the country for mass action, including the occupation of NELFUND’s headquarters, if the outstanding payments are not released immediately.
According to NANS, thousands of beneficiaries of the scheme have been left stranded following the non-payment of upkeep allowances for the past two months, a situation the association said is worsening the financial challenges faced by students amid prevailing economic difficulties.
“The continued delay in the disbursement of these allowances is completely unacceptable,” Akinteye stated, noting that the primary objective of the NELFUND initiative is to provide financial relief and support to students pursuing higher education.
The student leader argued that any disruption in the payment process undermines the programme’s purpose and places additional hardship on beneficiaries who rely on the allowances for transportation, feeding, accommodation, and other essential needs.
NANS said it has received numerous complaints from affected students nationwide and accused relevant authorities of failing to provide clear explanations for the delay.
The association called on the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, to urgently intervene and ensure the immediate release of all outstanding allowances.
In addition to the payment of the arrears, NANS demanded transparency from the authorities regarding the reasons behind the disruption and measures being taken to prevent future delays.
The association warned that if the issue remains unresolved, students across the country may be forced to embark on peaceful demonstrations to press home their demands.
“Failure to resolve the matter within the shortest possible time will leave Nigerian students with no option but to embark on peaceful mass action,” the statement read.
While emphasizing that the warning should not be interpreted as a threat, NANS said it reflects the growing frustration among students whose academic pursuits and welfare have been negatively affected by the delay.
The development is expected to increase pressure on the Federal Government and NELFUND, a flagship student financing initiative designed to expand access to higher education and ease the financial burden on Nigerian students.
Stakeholders are now looking to the government and NELFUND management for swift intervention to prevent a potential nationwide confrontation with the country’s student population.
