The Federal Ministry of Education has expressed serious concern over a report published by The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, which alleged that certain Nigerian universities have made unauthorised deductions from funds disbursed under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) scheme.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press, Boriowo Folashade, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the allegations as “very disturbing and extremely concerning,” stressing that any unauthorised deductions from student loans not only violate financial ethics but also compromise the core principles on which NELFund was established.
He remarked that if the claims prove true, such actions would represent a gross breach of public trust and a betrayal of the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to education.
“In response, the Ministry is convening an urgent meeting on 6 May 2025 with the Vice Chancellors of the affected universities and the Managing Director of NELFund. The meeting will aim to thoroughly investigate the matter, ensure full accountability, and reaffirm the Ministry’s zero-tolerance policy toward financial malpractice in the education sector,” the statement read.
“To reinforce this effort, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Athena Centre, will launch a compliance-tracking initiative and a countdown webpage to monitor institutional transparency. They will also offer technical assistance and introduce an Annual University Transparency Index to promote accountability and enhance the global relevance of Nigerian universities,” said the Minister.
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He further disclosed that a training programme would be organised for Bursars and ICT Heads of universities and polytechnics to support the development and maintenance of an open-portal initiative.
“As part of our National Education Sector Reform Initiative (NESRI), governance remains the top pillar of our agenda. We are committed to strengthening transparency, promoting responsible financial conduct, and ensuring that every kobo allocated for student welfare is used appropriately. Let me assure Nigerians that this matter will not be swept under the carpet. Anyone found culpable will face appropriate sanctions,” Dr Alausa added.
He also emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who established NELFund as a flagship programme, had made adequate budgetary provision to support students and institutions in a fair and transparent manner.
“NELFund was created to expand students’ access to high-quality education and to support universities financially in a legal and sustainable way. Any attempt to exploit this fund is unacceptable and contradicts the President’s vision for inclusive human capital development,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring that students receive the full benefits of all government education support initiatives.
