News Investigators/ The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has paid the monthly upkeep allowances to most students of four higher institutions in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
The institutions include Yobe State University, Damaturu, College of Education, Potiskum, Kashim Ibrahim University (KIU), Maiduguri, and the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa,
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) investigation reveals that most beneficiaries of the scheme have received their June and July upkeep payments, amounting to N40,000 each.
NAN also reports that the monthly upkeep of N20,000 is one component of the scheme, aside from the payment of tuition fees, which is also handled by the scheme.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Sani Isa, confirmed the payments to NAN Damaturu on Tuesday.
He, however, said a few students who didn’t receive their payments were those who made mistakes during the registration process of the scheme.
“They did not press the upkeep button during registration, and that is why they are only enjoying payment of the school fees component,” he said.
Prof. Isa said the university had stepped up sensitisation of students on the scheme, especially the online registration process.
A History student of the institution, Mohammed Sani, thanked the Federal Government for introducing the scheme, which he said had greatly supported students in transportation and feeding.
An NCE 1 student of Federal College of Education, Potiskum, Ibrahim Suleiman, said NELFUND came to his aid as his poor parents could not afford to pay his school fees anymore.
But a Computer Science Department Student of Federal University, Gashua, Ahmed Abdullahi, told NAN that he was yet to be paid his June and July upkeep allowances.
“ June and July upkeep have not been paid. But my May upkeep was actually paid in June,” he said.
When contacted, the University’s Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, Alhaji Adamu Saleh, said payments were expected within the week.
“As you are aware, the N20,000 monthly upkeep allowance is paid directly into the students’ accounts by NELFUND. The university is not involved.
“ But Information available to us indicates that the payments are expected within the week,” he said.
In Borno, NELFUND Desk Officer at Kashim Ibrahim University (KIU), Maiduguri, Mr Abdulsalam Mintar, said the institution always ensured that students were paid their monthly upkeep under the scheme.
He said KIU also made it a duty to reimburse registered students who paid for their school fees as soon as funds were released to the institution from the Federal Government.
The Deputy Coordinator, North East Zone, National Association of Nigeria Students, Mr Mohammed Umar, also confirmed that eligible students of KIU had received their upkeep payment for June and July.
He said reported delays in previous payments were due to non-release of funds by NELFUND, not the institution.
A beneficiary at KIU, Mala Gubio, said he no longer had to source school fees as they had usually been settled by NELFUND.
“We can now focus on our studies because we don’t have to struggle to pay school fees anymore,” he said.
A parent, Abur Mamman, called on the Federal Government to enhance the scheme so that there would be no delays in payment of the monthly upkeep going forward.
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in Adamawa, Dr Abdulrahman Ishiaka, also confirmed payments of June and July upkeeps.
He noted that the previous delays in the payment experienced by some students were mostly as a result of incorrect bank details provided by the students.
Ishiaka, however, said whenever such incidents were reported to the management, they were corrected, and the students continued benefiting from the scheme.
A student of the Polytechnic, Fatima Hassan, appealed to the Federal Government to ensure prompt payment of the upkeep funds and enhance communication between NELFUND and benefiting institutions.
NAN