The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) continues to make headlines as the Federal Government’s student loan programme enters another critical phase.
Today’s top developments include the Senate’s decision to expand its ongoing investigation to cover NELFUND’s operations, fresh concerns from University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) students over school fee payments and loan disbursement, the latest update on upkeep allowance payments, and continued loan disbursements to tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
If you are a NELFUND applicant or beneficiary, here are the latest updates for Wednesday , July 22, 2026.
Senate Expands Investigation to Include NELFUND
The Senate has broadened its investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), extending the probe to several education and social intervention agencies, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Other agencies now included in the investigation are the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
The decision followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Safe Schools Initiative, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
According to Senator Kalu, the committee’s preliminary findings showed that the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative is closely connected with agencies responsible for education funding, student welfare and intervention programmes.
He explained that investigating the initiative alone would leave major gaps in the Senate’s oversight responsibilities.
What Will the Senate Investigate?
Under the expanded mandate, the committee will examine:
- NELFUND’s student loan disbursement process.
- Administrative efficiency.
- Students’ access to the loan scheme.
- TETFund’s security and infrastructure interventions.
- UBEC’s role in improving basic education.
- Activities of other relevant intervention agencies.
The Senate also approved an additional three weeks for the committee to complete its assignment before submitting its final report.
For students, the investigation is expected to determine whether education intervention funds are being managed efficiently and whether beneficiaries are receiving support as intended.
UNILORIN Students Want NELFUND Payments to Come Before School Fee Deadlines
Another issue attracting attention today involves students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
Some students have appealed to the Federal Government, NELFUND, the university management and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to improve the coordination between student loan disbursements and university registration.
According to the students, UNILORIN requires payment of school fees before students can complete their registration for a new academic session.
As a result, many students who eventually receive NELFUND approval say they have no choice but to borrow money or rely on parents and guardians to pay their tuition before registration closes.
When NELFUND later pays the approved tuition to the university, the students claim the money is not refunded directly to them.
Instead, they say the payment is retained and carried over as payment for the following academic session.
Although the students acknowledge that the money is not lost, they argue that the arrangement defeats one of the major objectives of the student loan programme to provide immediate financial relief.
Students Recommend a New Payment System
To solve the problem, the students are calling on:
- Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa
- NELFUND Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr
- UNILORIN Management
- NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez
They are urging the stakeholders to align NELFUND disbursements with university registration calendars or introduce a pre-approval system that would allow eligible students to register without paying school fees upfront.
The students believe such a system would eliminate yearly refund issues while ensuring that the programme provides the financial support it was created to offer.
As of the time of filing this report, neither UNILORIN nor NELFUND had publicly responded to the concerns.
NANS Says Upkeep Allowance Payments Have Resumed
There is also positive news for student loan beneficiaries awaiting upkeep allowances.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) recently announced that the technical upgrade of NELFUND’s payment platform has been completed.
According to the association, the upgrade was necessary to address issues that previously delayed upkeep allowance payments for some beneficiaries.
With the upgrade completed, NANS said upkeep disbursements have resumed and advised eligible students to monitor their bank accounts while ensuring that their banking details submitted to NELFUND are accurate.
Although some students have confirmed receiving payments, others are still waiting, suggesting that disbursements may continue in batches.
Students who experience delays are encouraged to verify their application status and account details through official NELFUND channels.
NELFUND Continues Tuition Payments to More Institutions
NELFUND has also continued releasing tuition payments to participating tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Recent disbursements covered institutions including:
- Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET)
- Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST)
- Federal College of Agriculture, Akure
The payments covered hundreds of beneficiaries admitted under the student loan programme.
Earlier figures released by NELFUND showed that the agency had disbursed more than ₦303 billion to support tuition and upkeep payments for over 1.6 million Nigerian students.
The figures highlight the continued expansion of the scheme as more institutions join the programme and more students receive financial support.
What Students Should Do
If you have applied for the NELFUND Student Loan Scheme, experts advise applicants to:
- Regularly monitor their NELFUND dashboard for updates.
- Ensure bank account details are correct.
- Stay in contact with their institution’s bursary or student affairs office.
- Follow official announcements from NELFUND regarding tuition and upkeep payments.
- Report any discrepancies through the agency’s official complaint channels.
NELFUND Latest Update Today at a Glance
- The Senate has expanded its investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative to include NELFUND and other education agencies.
- Lawmakers will examine NELFUND’s loan disbursement process, administrative efficiency and student access framework.
- UNILORIN students are urging the Federal Government and NELFUND to align loan disbursements with university registration timelines.
- Students say beneficiaries should not be forced to pay school fees before receiving approved student loans.
- NANS says technical upgrades have been completed and upkeep allowance payments have resumed.
- NELFUND continues to disburse tuition payments to more institutions as the student loan programme expands nationwide.
???? Stay Empowered with ZOEEB
Join our community for daily updates on jobs, skills, and financial growth opportunities.
