"TINUBU NEVER ORDERED TUITION FEE HIKE", NELFUND Board Member, Farouk Replies Atiku

 

Comrade Umar Farouk Lawal, the student representative on the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has challenged former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to provide evidence for his claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees.

Lawal, reacting to Atiku’s reported promise to review NELFUND if elected, said there was no presidential directive ordering federal or state-owned tertiary institutions to increase tuition fees.

He challenged Atiku and his team, as well as heads of tertiary institutions, to produce any presidential directive, circular, memorandum, letter or other official document showing that Tinubu ordered such an increase.

According to Lawal, decisions by individual institutions to review or adjust charges should not automatically be attributed to the President, as federal and state tertiary institutions have governing structures responsible for determining institutional charges within the applicable regulatory framework.

He also defended NELFUND, describing it as a major intervention designed to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent Nigerian students from accessing tertiary education.

Lawal said NELFUND had provided tuition support and upkeep allowances to students nationwide, citing figures indicating that more than 1.38 million students had benefited from over ₦242 billion in tuition and upkeep support as of April 2026.

He further referenced Presidency figures showing that more than 1.64 million students had accessed tuition and upkeep support, with over ₦303 billion disbursed through 300 higher institutions.

The NELFUND board member also questioned Atiku’s reported proposal to review the student-loan scheme, asking which specific aspects would be reviewed and how proposed debt forgiveness for qualifying beneficiaries would be funded without undermining the sustainability of the programme.

Lawal stressed that NELFUND should not be portrayed merely as a response to alleged increases in school fees, arguing that its broader purpose is to expand access to tertiary education and provide financial relief to students from less financially capable families.

He urged political leaders, particularly presidential candidates, to base discussions about education on verifiable facts and evidence rather than narratives that could mislead the public.

Lawal reaffirmed his commitment to defending the interests and welfare of Nigerian students, regardless of political affiliation, stressing that students should not become victims of political narratives or misinformation.