The Presidency has expressed strong condemnation over alleged unauthorised deductions from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursements to students by several tertiary institutions across the country.

Reacting to the growing concerns, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Hon. Sunday Asefon, in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, announced that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have been tasked with investigating the reports.

According to Asefon, preliminary findings—prompted by an investigative report from The Guardian Newspaper—reveal that at least 51 institutions are implicated in the scandal, with deductions ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦40,000 allegedly siphoned from students’ loan disbursements.

“These institutions have been found to deduct between ₦20,000 and ₦40,000 from students’ loan disbursements—an action that is not only fraudulent but also directly undermines the integrity and purpose of the student loan scheme,” Asefon stated.

He described the act as a betrayal of the intent behind the NELFUND initiative, which was introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to ease the financial burden of education for Nigerian students and their families.

The presidential aide noted that some institutions have also failed to publicly announce the disbursement of loans to eligible students, further compounding the opacity and abuse of the programme.

In response, the Presidency announced a multi-layered plan to tackle the issue, including:

  • Establishment of a Monitoring Committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, NELFUND, recognised student bodies, and the Presidency;
  • Collaboration with the EFCC and ICPC to identify and prosecute institutions and individuals involved;
  • Imminent rollout of monitoring and sanction measures in collaboration with the Minister of State for Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa.

“The Presidency will not tolerate any attempt to undermine this vital student support programme,” the statement emphasized. “Those found culpable of fraudulent deductions will face the full weight of the law.”

Asefon assured the Nigerian public that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to safeguarding the future of Nigerian youth and upholding the integrity of the NELFUND scheme.

______________________________________________________________________ “Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209. ______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626

________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola _______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com