FG to fully cover student fees through NELFUND
Tunji Alausa
The federal government has unveiled sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s education sector, promising a unified fee structure for universities and full coverage of student fees under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Announcing the initiative at a media briefing in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa said the reforms aim to enhance transparency, fairness, and accessibility across higher institutions.
He assured parents and students that NELFUND loans would cover all fees, including tuition, departmental charges, and other institutional costs.
“The federal government, through NELFUND loans, will ensure that no student is denied access to education due to financial challenges,” Dr. Alausa said. He added that the programme particularly benefits students from disadvantaged backgrounds, easing financial burdens and guaranteeing uninterrupted learning.
The minister revealed that all Nigerian universities would soon operate under a standardized fee system, eliminating arbitrary and inconsistent charges. “With NELFUND support, every fee will be clearly defined, transparent, and uniform across our universities,” he explained.
Highlighting the role of technology, Dr. Alausa said the government is integrating artificial intelligence in classrooms, deploying solar-powered infrastructure, providing tablets to teachers, and expanding digital literacy for students. Local tech firms are also developing tools to support these reforms.
“Leveraging AI, digital platforms, and solar solutions will not only improve lesson delivery but also prepare Nigerian students for global competitiveness,” he stated.
He further emphasized the need for accountability, advocating stricter enforcement of the Exam Malpractice Act, disciplinary measures for erring lecturers, and stronger oversight by university governing councils.
Dr. Alausa also called for a review of Nigeria’s overloaded curriculum, stressing that it must be streamlined for relevance and effective learning outcomes.
The reforms include several measures to benefit both students and staff:
Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund: Academic and non-academic staff can access loans of up to 10 million, capped at 33.3% of their gross annual salary, for purposes such as transportation, medical support, and small enterprises.
Earned Academic Allowance (EAA): The government disbursed ¦50 billion in June 2025 as the first tranche of the long-delayed EAA to university lecturers.
National Student Loan Programme via NELFUND: Launched as part of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, the programme offers interest-free loans to eligible public tertiary students. Since opening in May 2024, over N77 billion (US$50 million) has been disbursed to 396,252 students across 210 institutions nationwide.
Dr. Alausa commended TETFund for its role in financing educational projects and reiterated the government’s commitment to modernizing and sustaining Nigeria’s education system.
“Since assuming office, our reforms have been bold, forward-looking, and focused on building an education system that Nigerians can be proud of,” he concluded.
