Students of Bayero University (BUK) and Northwest University, Kano, have appealed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expedite payment of outstanding monthly upkeep allowances.

Some of the students said the delay is affecting their welfare and academic activities.

The president of the students’ union government (SUG) at BUK, Abdulmudalib Kalli-Sherrif, said thousands of students were yet to receive their N20,000 monthly upkeep allowance for about four months due to a mismatch between the university’s academic calendar and that of NELFUND.

He said nearly 30,000 BUK students benefited from the scheme, which covers tuition fees and monthly upkeep.

“About a four-month backlog was created due to the mismatch of the calendars of BUK and NELFUND, which extended the session.

“NELFUND agreed to pay the outstanding upkeep allowances, and we are in contact with them. They have updated their system and assured us that students will receive the arrears soon,” he said.

Mr Kalli-Sherrif added that some beneficiaries had started receiving payments, noting that Batch A students were paid N20,000 for the latest month while others were awaiting their turn.

He commended NELFUND for supporting students with tuition and upkeep allowances, describing the initiative as beneficial to many learners.

Meanwhile, students of Northwest University Kano also expressed concern over delays in the payment of the monthly upkeep allowance, urging authorities to ensure prompt disbursement.

A beneficiary, Haruna Sani, a building technology student, said although he recently received N20,000, he was still expecting payment for about two months.

“I received N20,000 last week, but I am still expecting payment for about two months. We were assured that the outstanding allowance may be paid soon,” he said.

Mr Haruna suggested that tuition support should be paid directly into students’ accounts to enable them to settle their fees promptly, adding that some students who paid fees before NELFUND’s intervention were still waiting for refunds.

Another beneficiary, Hussaina Bashir, of the Department of Educational Foundations, said delayed upkeep payments had affected her ability to purchase academic materials.

She appealed to the federal government to ensure timely release of the allowance to reduce financial pressure on students.

The spokesperson for the Northwest University Kano SUG, Umar Ibrahim, said the union had received complaints from students across faculties over the delays.

He said the union had engaged the university management and visited the NELFUND office in Kano to seek clarification on the issue.

“The delay has affected many students. Some can no longer afford transportation to campus and have reduced their attendance at lectures.

“It has also affected businesses around the university because students have less money to spend,” he said.

He urged the government to speed up the release of outstanding allowances and consider reviewing the amount in view of current economic realities.

The Dean of Student Affairs, Northwest University, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed receiving complaints from students but clarified that the university is not responsible for disbursing the allowance.

He explained that NELFUND pays the funds directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

“We only know that payments have been made when students inform us because the money goes directly into their accounts,” Mr Musa said.

He added that the institution had followed up with relevant authorities and was informed that delays were linked to the release of funds from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for onward disbursement by NELFUND.

Some parents of beneficiaries commended the federal government for introducing the initiative, saying the gesture would provide much-needed support to students and reduce the financial challenges associated with pursuing higher education.

They also appealed for improved coordination between NELFUND and tertiary institutions to ensure timely refunds of tuition fees paid by students and prompt payment of upkeep allowances.

A parent, Zulai Abubakar, said many parents borrowed money to pay school fees before their children benefited from the loan scheme.

She urged institutions to refund such payments immediately after receiving funds from NELFUND.

Another parent, Muyideen Akorede, described the initiative as commendable, saying its objectives could be undermined if beneficiaries faced difficulties accessing refunds and allowances.

He called for transparency in the management of funds and proper communication with students and parents.

Fatima Sani, another parent, expressed concern over reports that some students were owed several months of the N20,000 monthly upkeep allowance, noting that many depended on the support for transportation, feeding and academic materials.

She described the gesture as a welcome intervention aimed at supporting students and easing the financial burden of education on families.

(NAN)