By Adesina Wahab
A member of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Comrade Umar Farouk Lawal, has challenged the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to provide evidence to support his claim that President Bola Tinubu ordered an increase in tuition fees in tertiary institutions across the country.
Lawal, who represents the student community on the board, said in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday that his attention was drawn to a statement credited to Atiku, in which the former Vice President reportedly said he would review NELFUND if elected.
He described the allegation that President Tinubu ordered tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees as inaccurate, insisting that “at no time” did the President issue such an order to federal or state-owned tertiary institutions.
“As the Board Member representing Students on the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), I wish to state categorically that at no time has Mr. President ordered the increment of tuition fees in any federal or state-owned tertiary institution in Nigeria,” Lawal said.
He challenged heads of tertiary institutions across the country, as well as Atiku and his team, to produce any presidential directive, circular, memorandum, letter or other official document showing that the President ordered an increase in tuition fees.
According to him, political discussions concerning the education and future of Nigerian students should be based on verifiable facts and evidence rather than assumptions or narratives capable of misleading the public.
Lawal also defended the NELFUND scheme, saying the Fund was established to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent Nigerian students from accessing tertiary education.
He said NELFUND had provided tuition support and upkeep allowances to students across the country, adding that, as of April 2026, more than 1.38 million students had benefited from the scheme, with over ₦242 billion disbursed in tuition and upkeep support.
He argued that describing NELFUND merely as a response to alleged increases in school fees would amount to a misrepresentation of the Fund’s purpose and impact.
“NELFUND is a major intervention designed to expand access to tertiary education and provide financial relief to students from families who may otherwise struggle to meet the cost of their education,” he stated.
On Atiku’s reported proposal to review NELFUND, Lawal said Nigerians deserved to know the specific aspects of the Fund the ADC presidential candidate intended to review and how his proposed reforms would improve the existing system.
He further questioned how any proposed debt forgiveness for qualifying beneficiaries would be funded and implemented without compromising the sustainability of the student-loan scheme for future generations.
The NELFUND Board Member also clarified that decisions by individual tertiary institutions to review or adjust their charges should not automatically be attributed to the President, noting that federal and state institutions have governing structures and authorities responsible for determining institutional charges within the applicable regulatory framework.
He added that NELFUND itself had expressed concern over reports of arbitrary increases in tuition and other institutional charges and had indicated its commitment to protecting students’ interests.
Lawal further cited figures from the Presidency indicating that NELFUND had enabled more than 1.64 million students to access tuition and upkeep support, with over ₦303 billion disbursed through 300 higher institutions.
He therefore urged political leaders, particularly those seeking the presidency, to make constructive, evidence-based and student-centred contributions to the national conversation on education.
“It will be wrong to discredit an initiative that has provided tangible assistance to millions of Nigerian students without presenting credible evidence to support such allegations,” he said.
Lawal reaffirmed his commitment to defending the interests and welfare of Nigerian students irrespective of political affiliation, stressing that students should not become victims of political narratives or misinformation.
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