Unpaid NELFUND Upkeep: Steps Students Must Follow to Resolve Payment Delays

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially resumed the disbursement of upkeep allowances to students who updated their banking details on the fund’s platform. This development comes after weeks of delays caused by issues with digital wallet compatibility.

According to credible reports, over 3,600 students who previously linked digital-only wallets to their NELFUND profiles have now received their backlog of upkeep payments after successfully switching to commercial bank accounts.

The affected students were part of the broader student loan program launched by the federal government in May 2024. NELFUND had earlier advised all beneficiaries experiencing payment issues to ensure their bank details were updated to a conventional commercial bank account to enable successful transactions.

Why the Delay Occurred

Initial disbursement failures were largely attributed to system incompatibility with digital-only banking platforms. This hindered thousands of eligible students from receiving their monthly upkeep support, despite being approved under the scheme.

Following this, NELFUND opened a portal allowing students to update their payment details and resolve the issue. Institutions were also instructed to assist students by escalating unresolved cases through their ICT units.

What to Do If You Haven’t Been Paid

Students who are yet to receive their upkeep allowance are advised to:

1. Log in to the official NELFUND portal and check the status of their payment.
2. If still unpaid, raise a support ticket requesting access to update their banking information.
3. Alternatively, visit their institution’s ICT office to file a complaint, which can be forwarded to NELFUND for further action.

NELFUND has also urged affected students to avoid using unverified wallet services and ensure they register with recognized commercial banks to facilitate timely payments in future disbursement cycles.

Progress So Far

To date, the fund has disbursed over ₦34.85 billion in upkeep allowances as part of the ₦73.1 billion approved student loan package. More than 366,000 students across Nigeria have benefitted from the initiative since its commencement.

The upkeep component of the loan is designed to support the living expenses of students in tertiary institutions, while tuition payments are made directly to the respective institutions.

Students can contact NELFUND for support via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or through verified social media handles such as @nelfund on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

Final Note

The resumption of disbursement is expected to bring significant relief to many students who rely on this financial support for their daily academic needs. NELFUND has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring smooth processing and timely payment for all eligible beneficiaries.