KEY POINTS
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NELFUND is introducing a token-based payment arrangement to prevent duplicate tuition payments.
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A proposed parental portal will allow families to confirm whether institutional fees have been paid.
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NANS has welcomed the reforms but called for reliable implementation and cooperation from universities.
Nigeria’s student loan programme is set for changes aimed at preventing duplicate tuition payments and improving transparency after concerns emerged that some beneficiaries were receiving financial support from both the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and their parents for the same educational expenses.
The proposed changes include a token-based payment system and a parental verification portal, which the fund says will help students, families and tertiary institutions confirm tuition payments.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, the reforms form part of the proposed NELFUND 2.0 initiative. NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the agency had identified cases in which students continued to obtain tuition money from their parents despite the fund having already paid their institutional fees. He explained that communication delays between the fund, institutions and beneficiaries had contributed to some of the problems.
New payment system targets duplicate transactions
Under the proposed arrangement, students will use a mobile application to authorise tuition payments through tokens linked to their respective institutions. Unlike a direct cash transfer, the system is designed to ensure that approved tuition funds go to the appropriate institution rather than a beneficiary’s personal bank account.
NELFUND says the arrangement will also reduce situations in which students independently pay their fees and subsequently seek refunds after discovering that the fund has already settled the bill. Meanwhile, the proposed parental verification portal will allow parents to check whether their children’s school fees have been paid.
The portal is expected to provide basic payment confirmation without necessarily disclosing the amount involved. This is particularly relevant where parents continue to support students financially without knowing that their tuition has already been covered by the government-backed loan scheme.
NANS welcomes reforms, urges universities to cooperate
The National Association of Nigerian Students has welcomed the proposed token payment system, describing it as an opportunity to improve accountability and reduce disputes.
NANS Public Relations Officer, David Obidah, told The Guardian that the arrangement could help address duplicate transactions and improve the tracking of tuition payments. However, he stressed that the system would only work effectively if tertiary institutions cooperated fully.
He urged universities to reconcile payments promptly, update student portals and resolve discrepancies without unnecessary delays. He also called for accessible and reliable systems that protect beneficiaries from administrative errors. NELFUND’s reforms come as the agency manages a substantial volume of applications and disbursements.
According to figures cited by The Guardian, the fund had recorded N372.62 billion in total disbursements as of Oct. 3, 2026, covering institutional fees and student upkeep allowances. The proposed changes therefore seek to strengthen accountability across a growing programme. However, effective implementation will depend on accurate institutional records, timely notifications and clear communication between students, parents and the fund.
