Students Sue Varsity Over NELFUND Refund Delay

About 495 students of the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State, have instituted legal proceedings against the university over the alleged delay in refunding school fees paid before the disbursement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The affected students, represented by legal practitioner Tijjani Magaji, Esq., filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Gusau Judicial Division, seeking judicial intervention to compel the university to process and release their refunds.

According to court documents, the students were beneficiaries of the 2024/2025 NELFUND Student Loan Scheme.

Before NELFUND released tuition payments to the university, many of the affected students had already paid their school fees personally to avoid missing academic deadlines. After NELFUND later paid the same tuition fees directly to the institution, the students became entitled to refunds of the amounts they had earlier paid.

The legal documents further revealed that the university had acknowledged that the affected students deserved refunds and had indicated that the payments would be processed. However, the students alleged that despite several months of waiting and repeated follow-ups, the refunds have not been paid, prompting them to seek legal redress.

Before filing the suit, the students' legal representatives issued a Pre-Action Notice dated April 27, 2026, to the university's management, notifying the institution of their intention to commence legal proceedings if the matter was not resolved within 30 days. The notice was addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of the university and explained that the action was being taken on behalf of the affected students.

The suit lists the Federal University Gusau, the Vice-Chancellor, the Bursar, and the Director of Finance as respondents. The applicants are asking the court to compel the university to refund the outstanding fees paid by the affected students in accordance with the NELFUND refund policy.

The case highlights the growing concerns among students nationwide regarding delays in the refund of school fees after NELFUND disburses tuition payments to institutions. While several universities have already refunded eligible students or begun the refund process, some institutions are still facing complaints over delays.

The outcome of the case is expected to provide further legal clarity on the responsibilities of tertiary institutions in handling NELFUND refunds and may influence how similar cases are addressed across the country.