The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has raised concerns over the prolonged delay in the payment of upkeep allowances under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, warning that students across the country may embark on peaceful nationwide protests if the issue is not urgently addressed.
The President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the association had received several complaints from student beneficiaries regarding the non-payment of upkeep allowances for the past two months.
According to him, the delay has heightened frustration and uncertainty among students who depend on the funds to support their academic activities and daily living expenses.
Akinteye said the association had gathered credible information indicating that the disbursement process had remained stalled without any clear explanation from the relevant authorities.
“I have it on good authority that the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances has been on hold for the past two months, with no clear explanation or accountability from the relevant authorities,” he stated.
The student leader described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that the NELFUND initiative was established to ease the financial burden on students, especially amid the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
“Without mincing words, I wish to state emphatically that the continued delay in the disbursement of these allowances is completely unacceptable,” he said.
“The primary objective of the NELFUND initiative is to provide relief and support to Nigerian students, particularly in the face of prevailing economic realities. Any delay that deprives students
