NANS Fires Back at Dino Melaye Over NELFUND Claim, Says ₦20,000 Is Upkeep, Not Tuition
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly rejected claims by former Senator Dino Melaye that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) only provides students with ₦20,000, describing the statement as a misrepresentation of how the student loan scheme operates.
In a statement dated September 28, 2026, and signed by its President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS, NANS said the ₦20,000 figure being referenced by Melaye represents the monthly upkeep component of the NELFUND scheme and not the total financial support available to beneficiaries.
Melaye had recently criticised NELFUND and questioned the adequacy of the ₦20,000 monthly upkeep allowance, arguing that the amount could not cover annual tuition in government-owned tertiary institutions.
Responding to the criticism, NANS said the student financing programme distinguishes between institutional charges and upkeep support. According to the association, tuition and other approved institutional charges are paid to the beneficiary’s institution, while upkeep support is paid directly to the student.
NELFUND’s official platform confirms that the student loan covers institutional charges and/or upkeep, with verified institutional payments made to the relevant institution and upkeep payments transferred to the student’s nominated bank account.
NANS therefore argued that reducing the entire scheme to its ₦20,000 monthly upkeep component gives an incomplete picture of the programme. The association maintained that the initiative is designed to address broader financial barriers facing students pursuing higher education.
The students’ body also challenged Melaye to engage the policy on the basis of documented facts if he wishes to criticise its implementation, saying Nigerian students deserve informed discussion about programmes affecting their education.
NANS further pointed to the distinction between the two components as central to understanding the scheme: institutional payments are made on behalf of eligible beneficiaries, while upkeep provides additional financial assistance directly to students.
NELFUND itself describes the student loan initiative as a federal programme established to break financial barriers to higher education. Its official terms also state that loan amounts may include institutional fees and/or upkeep, depending on what is verified and approved for the individual student.
The association said the clarification was necessary because public discussion around the student loan programme should reflect the structure of the intervention rather than focus solely on one component.
NANS called on Melaye and other commentators to acquaint themselves with the operational details of NELFUND before making public assessments of the scheme, while urging that future criticism be based on verifiable information and specific issues concerning implementation.
The statement concluded that the NELFUND initiative is broader than the ₦20,000 upkeep payment and that discussions about its effectiveness should consider both institutional financing and direct student support.
The latest exchange adds to the ongoing public debate over the implementation, reach and adequacy of Nigeria’s student loan programme, with Melaye questioning the sufficiency of the financial assistance while NANS has focused on clarifying the different components of the scheme.
