ABU SRC Outlines Verification Protocols for NELFUND Refunds; Urges Patience Among Graduates

 The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has issued a critical update regarding the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursement and the subsequent refund process for graduated students.

In a statement released on Monday, March 16, 2026, the SRC addressed concerns from graduates whose NELFUND portal status indicates "Disbursed," yet the corresponding funds have not been fully processed by the institution.

Following consultations with university officials, the SRC confirmed that while some NELFUND payments have been successfully received, a significant number remain pending despite the "Disbursed" status on student dashboards. Consequently, the university is unable to process refunds on an individual basis at this time.

To ensure fairness and accuracy, the institution has initiated a collective verification exercise involving three key stages:

Payment Identification: Confirming which specific NELFUND payments have been successfully credited to the university’s accounts.

Status Verification: Distinguishing between applicants who have officially graduated and those who are "extra-year" students.

Audit of Payment History: Verifying students who paid their fees personally before the loan was approved versus those who waited for NELFUND to settle their balances.

The SRC noted that NELFUND has informed the university that some "Disbursed" statuses are still being finalized on their end. As a result, ABU management has indicated that refunds will not commence until all pending payments are received and the administrative verification is complete.

Public Relations Officer I, Oludayo Amos, emphasized that the SRC is closely monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities to expedite the process.

“Graduates are kindly advised to remain patient while the institution completes these necessary administrative procedures,” the statement read. The SRC pledged to provide further updates as new information becomes available from NELFUND and the university bursary.