African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dino Melaye criticizes Nigeria’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the federal student loan scheme under President Bola Tinubu, alleging corruption in how the programmes are run. He describes NELFUND as a “haven of corruption” and challenges the value of the monthly upkeep allowance given to student beneficiaries.
Melaye argues the allowance—set at N20,000 per month—is too low to meaningfully cover education costs. He questions the administration’s description of the scheme as paying students’ school fees, saying N20,000 cannot reasonably cover annual tuition in government-owned tertiary institutions. “Which government school takes N20,000 as annual school fees?” he asks, adding that the government’s framing conflicts with the level of support provided.
Both outlets frame the comments as part of a broader public debate about the implementation and real-world impact of the student loan initiative, including whether the financial assistance is sufficient amid rising education-related expenses.
