Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTUM), has directed students to leave the campus after a protest erupted over alleged delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In a memo dated 23 March and signed by the Registrar, John David, the institution declared an immediate Easter break from 23 March to 7 April, instructing all students to vacate their hostels by 6 p.m. that same Monday.
The decision followed a protest by students earlier in the day, during which they blocked the university’s main entrance and demanded transparency regarding NELFUND payments. Demonstrators held placards reading “No NELFUND, No Exams” and “Refund Our Money,” while chanting in unison.
Some students, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES anonymously, claimed that although their loan applications were approved, they had either not received any funds or were paid less than expected.
“We applied for this loan and got approval, but up till now, nothing has entered our accounts,” one student said. “We were told the money has already been sent to the school, so why are we not getting it?”
Another student described the situation as confusing and frustrating. “NELFUND is a loan, not a gift. We are expected to repay it after school, so why is there no transparency in how it is handled? Some people are saying they received less than what was approved,” the student said.
Others accused the school management of repeatedly shutting down academic activities whenever issues are raised instead of resolving them.
“Each time we protest, they send us on break instead of solving the problem. When we come back, everything is forgotten,” a student said. “This is a simple issue. Pay students their money and let peace return.”
In response, the student union leadership called for calm. In a message to students, the NUBESS president urged protesters to remain peaceful and avoid damaging property, assuring them that efforts were ongoing to address their concerns.
However, the university management rejected claims of widespread non-payment. The registrar stated that the majority of qualified students had already received their funds, noting that only 76 students were yet to benefit due to incomplete registration.
“Registration means you have paid your fees and will then be refunded under NELFUND. If you did not pay, what exactly would be refunded to you?” Mr David said.
He explained that the scheme works on a reimbursement basis, depending on the amount already paid by students. “If you paid N56,000 or N63,000, that is what you get back. If you only paid N200, you cannot expect a full refund,” he added.
Mr David also raised concerns about the identity of some protesters, suggesting that not all of them might be students. He warned that the disruption could interfere with academic activities, especially with examinations approaching.
NELFUND, created under the Student Loan Act signed into law in April 2024, offers interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and upkeep. Official figures show the programme has received over 1.69 million applications and disbursed about N183.8 billion, including payments made directly to schools and student allowances.
Despite this, concerns over transparency and payment timelines have continued to surface in some institutions.
At JoSTUM, the latest situation has heightened fears among students about further disruptions to their academic calendar.
“We are already preparing for exams, now we are being asked to go home without resolving anything,” another student said. “When we return, the same issue will still be there.”
As of the time of filing this report, the university had not indicated whether it would engage student representatives during the break to resolve the issues.
