BUK, Northwest Students Seek Prompt Payment Of NELFUND Upkeep Allowances

Students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Northwest University Kano have appealed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expedite the payment of outstanding monthly upkeep allowances, saying delays are affecting their welfare and academic activities.

The students, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said many beneficiaries are owed several months of the ₦20,000 monthly allowance despite receiving assurances that payments would be made.

The President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) at BUK, Abdulmudalib Kalli-Sherrif, said nearly 30,000 students at the institution are benefiting from the NELFUND scheme, which covers tuition fees and monthly upkeep.

He explained that about four months of unpaid allowances accumulated due to a mismatch between the university’s academic calendar and NELFUND’s payment schedule.

“About four months’ backlog was created due to the mismatch of the calendars of BUK and NELFUND, which extended the session. NELFUND has updated its system and assured us that students will receive the outstanding allowances soon,” he said.

Kalli-Sherrif noted that some beneficiaries had begun receiving payments, with Batch A students recently credited with ₦20,000, while others are still awaiting payment.

He commended the Federal Government for introducing the student loan scheme, describing it as a major relief for many students.

At Northwest University Kano, students also expressed concern over delays in the payment of upkeep allowances and called for prompt disbursement.

A beneficiary, Haruna Sani, a Building Technology student, said although he recently received ₦20,000, he was still expecting payment for about two months.

“I received ₦20,000 last week, but I am still expecting payment for about two months. We were assured that the outstanding allowance may be paid soon,” he said.

Haruna also urged authorities to consider paying tuition support directly into students’ accounts to enable them settle their fees, noting that some students who paid before NELFUND intervened were still waiting for refunds.

Another beneficiary, Hussaina Bashir of the Department of Educational Foundations, said delayed payments had made it difficult for her to buy academic materials, urging the government to ensure timely release of the allowances.

Northwest University SUG spokesperson, Umar Ibrahim, said the union had received complaints from students across different faculties, adding that the delay had also affected businesses around the campus as students had less money to spend.

He appealed to the government to release the outstanding allowances without further delay and review the ₦20,000 monthly stipend in light of current economic realities.

The Dean of Student Affairs at Northwest University, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed that the institution had received complaints from students but clarified that the university was not responsible for disbursing the allowances.

According to him, NELFUND pays beneficiaries directly, while the university only becomes aware of payments when students receive alerts.

Musa said the institution had engaged relevant authorities and was informed that the delays were linked to the release of funds from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for onward disbursement by NELFUND.

Parents of beneficiaries also welcomed the student loan initiative but urged the Federal Government to improve coordination between NELFUND and tertiary institutions to ensure prompt payment of upkeep allowances and timely refunds for students who paid tuition before benefiting from the scheme.

One of the parents, Zulai Abubakar, said many families borrowed money to pay school fees before their children were approved for the loan, urging institutions to refund such payments immediately after receiving funds from NELFUND.

Another parent, Muyideen Akorede, described the programme as a commendable intervention but warned that delays in refunds and upkeep payments could undermine its objectives.

Fatima Sani, also a parent, expressed concern over reports that some students were owed several months of the monthly allowance, noting that many beneficiaries depend on the funds for transportation, feeding and the purchase of academic materials.