Tinubu Administration Faces Criticism Over South-East Exclusion in NELFUND Disbursements; Officials Deny Regional Bias

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has come under scrutiny for reportedly excluding tertiary institutions in the South-East from its initial round of student loan disbursements. According to a circular released by NELFUND, over N2.9 billion has been allocated to more than 27,000 students across 19 higher education institutions nationwide. However, none of these institutions are located in the South-East region, sparking concerns of regional bias.

The NELFUND disbursement list includes at least one institution from each of the other five geopolitical zones in Nigeria, but South-East institutions were noticeably absent. This omission has led to widespread criticism of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, which has been accused of marginalizing the South-East in political and administrative decisions since assuming office in 2015.

Nasir Ayitogo, the spokesperson for NELFUND, responded to the allegations by stating that the fund distribution was not influenced by geopolitical considerations. “There is no consideration of geopolitical zones in disbursement,” Ayitogo explained. He further clarified that only institutions that responded to NELFUND’s verification requests were included in the funding. “NELFUND sent a verification list to every eligible institution. Only those that responded are receiving funds. We have not yet received any responses from institutions in the South-East,” Ayitogo added.

The exclusion of South-East institutions has reignited debates over the Tinubu administration’s approach to regional representation and equity. Critics argue that the pattern of exclusion reflects a broader trend of neglecting the South-East in key national initiatives.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund was established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, signed into law by President Tinubu earlier this year. The initiative is designed to provide financial support to students struggling with the rising costs of tuition and other educational expenses. Senate President Godswill Akpabio previously announced that around 30,000 students nationwide had been selected to benefit from the loan scheme, emphasizing its importance in making higher education accessible to underprivileged students.

Despite the controversy, NELFUND has received additional funding to support the loan program, including N100 billion from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), sourced from recovered proceeds of crime. The funds are intended to expand access to education for Nigerian students, although the South-East’s exclusion from the current disbursement has cast a shadow over these efforts.