Ministry Probes Alleged Illegal Deductions from Students’ NELFund by Universities

The Federal Ministry of Education has received with deep concern a report published by The Guardian Newspaper on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, alleging some Nigerian universities to have made unauthorized deductions from funds disbursed under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) scheme.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the allegations as “very disturbing and extremely concerning,” emphasizing that any unauthorized deductions from student loans not only breach financial ethics but also undermine the very foundation upon which NELFund was established. He stated that if proven true, such actions would constitute a gross violation of public trust and a betrayal of the government’s commitment to equitable access to education.