- NELFUND Explains Why Some Students Face Loan Delays
- NELFUND Releases Full FAQ on Student Loan Applications, Upkeep Disbursement, and Portal Issues
GoldenNewsNg reports that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has published a detailed list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to clarify concerns raised by students over loan application delays, upkeep disbursement, repayment obligations, and portal-related issues.
According to the agency, delays are often due to institutional data verification. Only schools that have uploaded and validated students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) will appear on the portal. Until that process is complete, students from those schools cannot apply or receive disbursements.
Another major reason for the delay is that multiple partner banks are involved in crediting accounts, and each bank works at its own pace. This can lead to staggered payments where some students receive upkeep before others.
Upkeep Disbursement: What Students Should Know
NELFUND emphasized that upkeep payments are tied strictly to academic sessions. Students are expected to reapply for both tuition and upkeep at the start of every new session.
Some key clarifications include:
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Session Expiry: If a student’s session has already ended, they will not receive upkeep for that period, even if their application was successful.
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Partial Payments: Where upkeep is disbursed for fewer months than expected (e.g., 3–4 months instead of 6), the balance will only be credited if the session is still active.
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Medical and Law Students: Because of their unique programme calendars, NELFUND is working on a tailored solution to accommodate them.
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Refunds for Already Paid Tuition: If NELFUND pays a school after a student has already settled their fees, the student must request a refund directly from the school. The fund does not pay refunds into personal accounts.
Repayment Rules and Obligations
NELFUND clarified that repayment is based only on what has been received.
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Example: If a student was approved for 12 months of upkeep but only received 7 months, repayment will cover just those 7 months.
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End of Session: Once a session officially ends, upkeep stops automatically. Students must reapply for the next session if they still need support.
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Loan Default: NELFUND reminded beneficiaries that repayment terms will be enforced to ensure the sustainability of the scheme, but emphasized fairness in calculation.
Common Portal Issues and Solutions
The FAQs also addressed challenges students face while using the NELFUND portal (nelf.gov.ng):
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Bank Details Update: Students must ensure their BVN matches the data provided by their institutions. If mismatches persist, they should raise a support ticket.
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Error Messages: Errors usually occur due to incomplete institutional uploads. Students are advised to wait until their schools finish the process.
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Support Delays: NELFUND admitted that response time has been slow because of an ongoing upgrade to its support system. However, students can still raise tickets for tracking.
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Portal Access: Only the official portal (nelf.gov.ng) should be used. Students should avoid third-party sites and agents.
Channels for Complaints and Fraud Reports
NELFUND urged students to immediately report suspicious activities or fraudulent requests for payment.
Official reporting channels include:
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Email: info@nelf.gov.ng
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Social Media: @nelfund (X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)
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Portal Support Desk: Via the help section on nelf.gov.ng
The agency reassured applicants that no hidden charges are required to access the loan, and all applications remain free of charge.
Final Assurance from NELFUND
NELFUND concluded by reaffirming its commitment to fairness, transparency, and accountability in disbursement. While acknowledging technical hitches, the agency stressed that students will not lose funds due to delays, as payments will eventually reflect once verification is complete.
👉 Students are strongly advised to remain patient, ensure their schools upload correct data, and always use official communication channels. Join GoldenNewsNg Nelfund Support Group HERE.
