Student loan beneficiaries lament delayed allowance

Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme across the country have lamented the delay in the payment of the August monthly stipend.

Some of the students, in separate interviews with our correspondent, expressed their disappointment in the payment delay.

It was reported that students can choose to apply for upkeep loan apart from institutional loans, which is paid directly to institutions.

A total of 20,371 students from six tertiary institutions were said to have been paid a sum of N20,000 each as July stipends.

The institutions said to have benefitted from the disbursement are Bayero University, Kano State; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State; University of Ilorin, Kwara State; University of Benin, Edo State; University of Ibadan, Oyo State; and University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

A BUK student, who spoke to our correspondent anonymously for fear of victimisation, said, “We haven’t received the August stipend. I am very confused. Please help us speak to them. The economy is getting too difficult. In fact, we are even trying to plead with them to please help us increase the stipend as the N20,000 cannot even get us anywhere.”

Another student from the University of Ibadan, who also spoke anonymously, said, “To be very honest, I was expecting it at month end but till now we have not got any feedback from them as to what the problem is.”

A student of the University of Benin, also speaking, said, “Honestly, it is getting too late. NELFUND needs to do something. Our school fees have been paid but at this point, the upkeep is much more important. Please help us reach out to them.”

Commenting on the development, NELFUND’s Director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, said the students would likely be paid the N20,000 stipend this week.

“It’s been approved. They should get it this week,” Oluwatuyi said.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to increase the monthly stipend from N20,000 to N40,000.