The Coalition of Northern Groups Students Wing (CNG-SW) has voiced its dissatisfaction with the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursement process, highlighting regional disparities and delays that are negatively impacting students in Northern Nigeria.

The coalition urged the federal government to discontinue the reform process and allow for a holistic consultation to address its potential to undermine institutions like TETFund and overburden students with loans.

In a statement by the group’s National Coordinator, Hassan Adamu, he called on the federal government to immediately address these issues and revisit the proposed Tax Reform Bill to ensure the protection of educational institutions and students nationwide.

The group also called on legislators and citizens to study the bill critically and advocate for justice in the education sector.

He said: “We call on the federal government, in the interest of Nigerian students, to discontinue the reform process and give room for a holistic consultation and amendment before legislation.

“We call on all patriotic legislators and all well-meaning Nigerians to study the bill with keen interest and ensure justice for our educational institutions and Nigerian students.

“The NELFUND Disbursement in Northern Institutions and Shortcomings: The coalition of Northern Groups Students Wing (CNG-SW), as a vanguard of the Federal Government Student Loan Scheme, has actively participated in sensitizing students, parents, and the general public about the Student Loan Scheme (Bill and Act), as well as sensitizing and mobilizing students to apply for the loan. They have critically studied and analyzed the release of disbursement statistics by the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) across tertiary institutions in the Northern region.

“From the disbursement statistics, over eighty-two thousand nine hundred and fifty-one (82,951) students across Forty-Five (45) institutions benefited from the region. It is imperative to clarify that out of the Two-Hundred and Thirty-Four (234) Federal and State tertiary institutions cleared by NELFUND for the first phase, only ninety-six (96) were from the North, with fifty-one (51) tertiary institutions yet to receive disbursement.”

The coalition stressed that the federal government must take immediate action to rectify these issues to ensure equitable access to education for all students. Failure to do so, they warned, risks deepening educational disparities and further eroding the nation’s academic system.

He added, “While some institutions have refunded tuition fees paid by beneficiaries before disbursement to them, some are refunding a certain percentage, while others are yet to commence the refund. Some beneficiaries have variations in the amount of loans disbursed to them and the amount payable as school fees, leaving them under pressure. The delay in disbursement and tuition fees payment pressure by tertiary institutions on beneficiaries is concerning.

“There is a deliberate attempt to narrow the NELFUND coverage in the Northern region, as the total number of Federal and State tertiary institutions in the region is more than 96. In Zamfara state, for instance, only four (4) out of the ten (10) public tertiary institutions were covered; Sokoto, only four; Kano, only four; and so on.

“Priority was also given to federal institutions, with few state-owned tertiary institutions taking advantage of the Student Loan Scheme to increase tuition fees for the 2024/2025 session. This will abuse the scheme.
“The hike in tuition fees, with the current economic reality, will be a catastrophe for students, and the scheme will be perceived as another form of extortion.

“The delay in refunds can give unpatriotic public servants room to embezzle the money. It is needless to remind us how snakes and other animals swallowed money years ago.

“The pressure of tuition fee payment deadlines, usually issued by many tertiary institutions, has led to the withdrawal of indigent students, missed academic activities such as examinations, and in some cases, poor academic performance or total forfeiture of their academic pursuit, leading to an increase in the number of dropouts in Northern institutions—up to 60 per cent.”

They also called on NELFUND to expand their coverage, as the total number of Federal and State tertiary institutions in the region is more than 96 institutions. This is to ensure access for all students.
The coalition said that NELFUND should ensure early disbursement to institutions to avoid pressure on beneficiaries by management.

The coalition also criticised the Tax Reform Bill, describing it as a “deliberate attempt to attack critical national institutions” like TETFund, which have supported educational development.

They warned that the reforms would deteriorate these institutions, leaving tertiary education infrastructure in disrepair.

“The reform will have a devastating effect on critical institutions that support educational development in the country,” the statement read.

The CNG-SW called on the federal government and legislators to act swiftly, emphasizing that failure to address these issues would deepen educational inequalities and further erode the academic system in Northern Nigeria.