NANS tackles North Central varsities over NELFUND refunds, illegal charges

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone C has condemned the withholding of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) refunds by some tertiary institutions in the North-Central region, warning that affected students should not be made to suffer after their fees have already been settled through the student loan scheme.

The association also kicked against what it described as arbitrary late-payment penalties, unnecessary levies and hidden charges imposed on students by some institutions, saying such practices had become an additional burden on students and their parents amid the prevailing economic hardship.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, the Zonal Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Comrade Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the association was particularly concerned about students who had paid their tuition fees from personal or family funds before their NELFUND loans were disbursed to their institutions.

“Several students who benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund had already paid their tuition fees before the loan was disbursed, yet many institutions have continued to withhold their refunds for months,” he said.

The NANS leader described the delay as unacceptable, arguing that retaining the funds defeated the purpose of the Federal Government’s intervention, which was designed to ease the financial pressure on students and their families.

“NANS Zone C demands the immediate refund of all NELFUND payments due to affected students,” Babatunde said.

He warned institutional authorities against using students’ refunds for administrative purposes, insisting that money paid by NELFUND on behalf of students whose fees had already been settled belonged to the affected beneficiaries.

“We will not tolerate any attempt by institutions to use students’ NELFUND refunds for administrative convenience or any other purpose,” he added.

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The association also expressed concern over the imposition of what it described as exploitative charges, particularly penalties imposed on students who were unable to pay their fees before institutional deadlines.

According to Babatunde, financial difficulties should not become a reason for students to incur additional charges capable of worsening their economic situation.

“A student who could not pay school fees early because of genuine financial hardship should not be punished with another inflated payment simply because the deadline has passed,” he said.

NANS Zone C consequently urged tertiary institutions across Kwara, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory to review their fee structures and abolish charges that place unnecessary financial pressure on students.

The association said every payment made by students must translate into corresponding services, stressing that institutions should provide functional lecture halls, laboratories, hostels, healthcare facilities, water and electricity.

On security, the student body called on security agencies and institutional authorities to strengthen protection around campuses and host communities following recurring incidents of robbery, kidnapping, harassment and attacks.

Babatunde urged the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, DSS and other security agencies to work with tertiary institutions and state governments to improve surveillance and other security infrastructure around campuses.

NANS Zone C also issued a two-week ultimatum to tertiary institutions in the region that had yet to conduct Students’ Union Government elections, demanding that the process be commenced and concluded within the stipulated period.

The association maintained that students should have elected representatives capable of articulating their interests and engaging institutional authorities on issues affecting their welfare.

Babatunde warned that institutions that failed to conduct the elections within the two-week period would face “legitimate and constitutional actions” from the association.

The NANS coordinator also demanded urgent intervention by the Niger State Government to end the ongoing strike at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, which he said had entered its second week and left thousands of students at home.

He warned that failure to resolve the dispute could force the association to mobilise students across the North-Central region for lawful and peaceful action.

Meanwhile, NANS Zone C commended the Kwara State Government for its interventions in education, youth empowerment and scholarship programmes, while urging the administration to expand bursary schemes, improve accommodation and strengthen student welfare.

The association further called on the North Central Development Commission to establish a formal partnership with NANS and ensure that students benefit from its programmes in education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, research, innovation, peace-building and youth empowerment.

Babatunde said the association would continue to engage governments and institutional authorities constructively while resisting policies it considered detrimental to the welfare and academic interests of students in the North-Central region.