Students Sent Home as NELFUND Dispute Forces University Closure
Students at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTUM) have been instructed to vacate the campus following a protest over delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The university management announced an immediate Easter break in a memo dated 23 March, signed by Registrar John David. All students were ordered to leave their hostels by 6 p.m. that Monday, with the campus closure scheduled until 7 April. This decision came after students earlier blocked the university’s main entrance, holding placards with messages such as “No NELFUND, No Exams” and “Refund Our Money.”
The protest stems from student complaints that despite having their loan applications approved, they have either received no funds or were paid amounts lower than expected. Some students, speaking anonymously, stated they were told the money had been sent to the school but had not reflected in their accounts. “We applied for this loan and got approval, but up till now, nothing has entered our accounts,” one demonstrator said. Another described the process as lacking transparency, questioning why reimbursements varied among approved applicants.
Student union leaders subsequently urged calm, asking protesters to remain peaceful and assuring them that dialogue was ongoing. However, university officials pushed back against claims of systemic failure. Registrar David stated that the majority of eligible students had already received their reimbursements, explaining that only 76 students were yet to benefit due to incomplete registration. He clarified that NELFUND operates on a reimbursement model, refunding students only the exact amounts they had previously paid toward school fees.
“Registration means you have paid your fees and will then be refunded under NELFUND. If you did not pay, what exactly would be refunded to you?” David said, adding that some protesters might not be enrolled students. He warned the disruption threatened academic activities, particularly with examinations imminent.
The NELFUND scheme, established under the Student Loan Act of April 2024, provides interest-free loans for tuition and upkeep in public tertiary institutions. While authorities report over 1.69 million applications and approximately N183.8 billion disbursed nationally, concerns over payment timelines and transparency persist at some campuses.
At JoSTUM, the unscheduled break has intensified student anxiety about academic continuity. With exams approaching, many fear the underlying payment issues will remain unresolved when they return. The university has not indicated whether it will engage student representatives during the recess to seek a resolution, leaving the campus in a state ofuspended academic activity and lingering discontent.
