The National Association of Nigerian Students has published a list of 39 tertiary institutions it says have collected tuition payments from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund on behalf of eligible students but are yet to refund those who had already paid their fees before the disbursements were made.

NANS President Babatunde Akinteye released the list on Wednesday, calling on the affected institutions to return the money without further delay.

"The following institutions have received NELFUND tuition payments on behalf of eligible students but have yet to refund students who had already paid their tuition fees before the NELFUND disbursement. This list is intended to promote transparency, accountability, and to ensure that affected students receive the refunds due to them without further delay," Akinteye stated.

The 39 institutions named are:

  1. Adamawa State University

  2. Federal Polytechnic, Mubi

  3. Federal College of Education, Yola

  4. Kaduna State Polytechnic

  5. Ogun State Institute of Technology

  6. Federal University Dutsin Ma

  7. University of Education, Akamkpa

  8. University of Uyo

  9. Yobe State University

  10. Federal University Lafia

  11. Modibbo Adama University

  12. Nasarawa State University

  13. Federal College of Forestry

  14. Federal University of Education, Pankshin

  15. Federal Polytechnic Nyak

  16. Plateau State University

  17. Federal Polytechnic Bauchi

  18. Imo State University

  19. Lagos State University of Education

  20. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology

  21. Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology

  22. Kano State College of Education and Preliminary Studies

  23. University of Nigeria

  24. Ebonyi State University

  25. Federal College of Education, Katsina

  26. College of Agriculture Science and Technology

  27. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

  28. University of Ilesa

  29. Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences

  30. Adekunle Ajasin University

  31. Delta State University

  32. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

  33. Ekiti State University

  34. Federal University Oye Ekiti

  35. University of Calabar

  36. Rivers State University

  37. Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

  38. Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe

  39. Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic

NANS stressed that students must not bear financial hardship due to administrative delays, noting that institutions that receive duplicate tuition payments have a clear responsibility to process refunds promptly.

"Nigerian students should not be made to bear unnecessary financial burdens because of administrative delays," the association said.

The NELFUND scheme, introduced under President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, pays approved tuition fees directly to tertiary institutions and provides upkeep allowances to eligible students. Concerns over delayed refunds have become one of the central issues surrounding its implementation, alongside earlier complaints about the disbursement of upkeep allowances.

NANS called for full transparency in how institutions manage NELFUND disbursements and said it would continue to hold schools accountable until all affected students receive what they are owed.