The Federal Government has established a high-powered committee to streamline and standardise the fee payment structure across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The move is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and transparency of financial transactions between universities and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the development on Wednesday in Abuja following a closed-door meeting with Vice-Chancellors of universities and NELFUND officials.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Alausa clarified that although universities have been receiving timely disbursements, the government aims to improve the notification and processing timelines to ensure a smoother operation.
He also addressed recent allegations of fraud within NELFUND, stating unequivocally that there is no evidence of wrongdoing as alleged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“The current systems are functional, but we’re committed to improving them to better serve NELFUND and Nigerian students, in line with the reform agenda of the current administration,” Alausa said.
A key resolution from the meeting was the formation of a committee comprising representatives from NELFUND, the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and selected university administrators. The committee’s mandate includes standardising the nomenclature of student fees to eliminate confusion over charges.
“All institutions will adopt a uniform terminology for student fees, even though the amounts may differ from one university to another,” Alausa explained.
He noted that the committee will also establish clear timelines for NELFUND payments and when institutions should notify students of applicable fees. This, he said, would ensure a transparent and predictable process for all stakeholders.
Addressing concerns about discrepancies between billed fees and NELFUND disbursements, the minister attributed the variation to differing service charges imposed by institutions.
“The committee will define a clear fee structure, including service charges, to avoid confusion and ensure students understand what is being paid and refunded,” he added.
Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a transparent, student-focused approach to managing educational funding and reiterated that ongoing reforms would prioritise student welfare and institutional accountability.
