Yemi Obafemi
The Federal Ministry of Education has launched an urgent investigation into allegations that some Nigerian universities made unauthorized deductions from student loans disbursed under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the claims as deeply troubling and a potential breach of public trust.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director Press and Public Relation, Boriowo Folashade.
The probe follows a report published by The Guardian on April 29, 2025, which raised concerns over illegal financial practices by certain institutions.
Alausa, described the allegations as “very disturbing and extremely concerning,” warning that any such misconduct, if proven, would represent a serious breach of public trust and the government’s commitment to equitable education access.
In response, the Ministry has scheduled an urgent meeting for May 6, 2025, involving Vice Chancellors of the affected universities and the Managing Director of NELFUND. The meeting aims to ensure a thorough investigation, uphold accountability, and reaffirm the Ministry’s zero-tolerance stance on financial malpractice.
To support this initiative, the Ministry will partner with the Athena Centre to launch a compliance-tracking system and a countdown webpage for transparency. An Annual University Transparency Index and technical support services will also be introduced. Additionally, training will be provided for Bursars and ICT Heads on managing an open-portal initiative.
Dr. Alausa underscored that good governance remains a key pillar of the National Education Sector Reform Initiative (NESRI), assuring the public that no wrongdoing will be overlooked. “Anyone found culpable will face appropriate sanctions,” he stated.
He also highlighted that the creation of NELFUND under President Bola Tinubu was meant to provide fair and transparent financial support to students and institutions alike. “Any attempt to exploit this fund is unacceptable and contradicts the President’s vision for inclusive human capital development,” he said.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring students receive the full benefits of government education support schemes.
