Clearing the Air: Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, Addresses Allegations of Missing ₦70 Billion from NELFUND
Alausa Disputes Authenticity of ICPC's Report Claiming ₦70 Billion Missing Student Loan
According to our sources, Alausa dismissed the reports that ₦70 billion went missing from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). He claims the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) report on missing student loans was overly sensationalized.
Interviewed on Channel TV, Alausa appreciated the ICPC for rectifying their erroneous report stating that an unutilized ₦70 billion did not occur.
"There's been a whole lot of sensation-mongering about NELFUND in recent days. The ICPC report claiming roughly ₦70 billion was neglected to fund students' education was faulty. It wasn't true. It wasn't a scenario where ₦100 billion was disbursed to NELFUND, and ₦70 billion was stolen," Alausa stated.
Alausa clarified that the loans were indeed funneled into the schools' accounts, but the students were left uninformed.
"What actually transpired is that fees, often totaling hundreds of millions of naira, were paid to the universities, but the students were not notified. The students become apprehensive, convinced their fees have yet to be settled," he explained.
He stressed that the Ministry has formulated guidelines to ensure seamless communication between schools and their students concerning the loan scheme.
"We've promptly set up guidelines, which we plan to discuss with the universities today. We'll establish timelines for when universities receive NELFUND fees and the duration they're expected to inform students," he disclosed.
Alausa assured Nigerians that NELFUND remains a significant legacy initiative, advantageous to over half a million students. He reiterated the ministry's steadfast opposition to fraud.
For Your Interest
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[1] Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
[3] Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)
[5] NELFUND's Technology-Driven Approach
- The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, appeals to Nigerian students not to be apprehensive about NELFUND, as the missing ₦70 billion allegation was incorrect and the funds were actually paid to universities.
- In an effort to combat corruption and ensure transparency, Alausa's ministry has formulated guidelines to ensure schools communicate timely and accurately with students about NELFUND loans.
- Tinubu's administration has upgraded 38 technical colleges and introduced innovative learning methods, showing commitment to improving educational institutions in Nigeria.
- Despite the controversy surrounding NELFUND, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has admitted their mistake in the report about missing money, thus retracting the statement.
- Nigeria's Federal Government has responded to growing criticism about the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by creating a committee aimed at reforming the program and extending its obligations to holders of NCE certificates.
- The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and NELFUND, two key actors in Nigeria's education sector, demonstrate an ongoing focus on enhancing the quality and honesty of exams and educational funding, respectively.
