NANS Intervenes as FULAFIA Begins NELFUND Tuition Fee Refunds to Students

NANS has intervened over delayed NELFUND refunds at FULAFIA, as the university assures eligible students of payments and addresses alleged deductions.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North-Central Zone C, has engaged the management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), Nasarawa State, over complaints concerning delays in the refund of tuition fees paid by students before disbursements from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The intervention followed a petition from affected students who reportedly complained that they were yet to receive refunds despite the university having received NELFUND payments on behalf of eligible beneficiaries. Some students also alleged that deductions ranging from ₦12,000 to ₦22,500 had been made from their expected refunds.

The Zonal Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Abiola Babatunde, disclosed the development in a statement, saying the students had raised concerns not only about the delay but also about transparency in the refund process.

According to him, NANS engaged FULAFIA management to obtain clarification and push for the release of funds due to affected students. He stressed that students who had already paid their tuition before NELFUND subsequently settled the same obligations should not be left financially disadvantaged by administrative delays.

During the engagement, the university Registrar, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, reportedly assured the NANS delegation that the institution had commenced the disbursement of NELFUND refunds to eligible beneficiaries.

The Registrar further assured the students’ body that the university was working towards ensuring that all eligible students received their refunds without further delay. Management also agreed to address concerns surrounding the alleged deductions from some beneficiaries’ payments.

The development comes amid wider concerns over the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan programme, particularly the handling of tuition payments made to institutions where students had already paid their fees before NELFUND disbursements.

In July 2026, NANS published a list of institutions it said had received NELFUND tuition payments on behalf of eligible students who had previously paid their fees. Federal University of Lafia was among the institutions named by the student body at the time.

NANS Zone C had subsequently warned tertiary institutions across the North-Central region against withholding refunds due to students. The association said the continued delay in returning duplicate tuition payments could undermine the intended financial relief provided by the student loan scheme.

For students, the issue extends beyond the recovery of previously paid tuition. Delayed refunds can affect their ability to meet other educational expenses, particularly in an environment where students already face costs associated with accommodation, transportation, learning materials, feeding and other academic requirements.

Babatunde said NANS would continue monitoring the refund process at FULAFIA until all eligible beneficiaries received the funds due to them. He also maintained that NELFUND funds should be handled transparently and without unjustifiable deductions or administrative bottlenecks.

The student body further indicated that its engagement with FULAFIA forms part of broader efforts to monitor the implementation of NELFUND across tertiary institutions in the North-Central region and ensure that students receive the financial benefits intended for them.

The FULAFIA engagement therefore places renewed attention on the need for clear reconciliation of student payments, NELFUND disbursements and institutional refunds, particularly where students initially paid their tuition from personal or family resources before benefiting from the loan scheme.

As the university proceeds with the refund exercise, affected students will be watching the process closely to establish whether outstanding payments are released in full and whether the concerns surrounding the reported deductions are satisfactorily addressed.

The development also highlights the importance of transparent communication between tertiary institutions, NELFUND and students in implementing the student loan programme, especially where financial transactions involve multiple stages of payment and reimbursement