Thousands of beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) have experienced delays in receiving their monthly upkeep allowances following a technical problem on the agency’s portal.

A source within NELFUND confirmed that a system glitch disrupted the disbursement process and that efforts are underway to reconcile affected transactions and restore normal payments.

“We have a system glitch, and we’re trying to reconcile,” the source said.

The development comes amid growing complaints from students who depend on the allowances to cover basic expenses such as feeding, transportation and accommodation.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said it has received numerous reports from beneficiaries across tertiary institutions who have not received payments for about two months.

In a statement, NANS President Babatunde Akinteye expressed concern over the delay, noting that the upkeep allowance is a critical component of the student loan programme.

“The primary objective of the NELFUND initiative is to provide relief and support to Nigerian students. Any delay that deprives students of access to these funds undermines the very purpose for which the initiative was established,” he said.

Akinteye called on NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun to intervene and ensure that outstanding payments are released without further delay.

He also urged the authorities to provide students with a clear explanation of the disruption and a timeline for resolving the issue.

The student body warned that prolonged delays could trigger peaceful protests, although it emphasised that its immediate concern is ensuring that affected students receive their allowances.

NELFUND, established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, provides interest-free loans and upkeep support to eligible students in public tertiary institutions.

Since the scheme commenced, hundreds of thousands of students across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have benefited from tuition loans and living expense support.

However, the programme has faced implementation challenges, including verification delays, application processing issues and payment concerns.

The latest portal disruption has added to those challenges, with stakeholders calling for a swift resolution to maintain confidence in the student loan initiative.