JoSTUM students block campus gate over alleged NELFUND non-payment

…Registrar Says Most Funds Already Disbursed

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Makurdi – Selected students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JoSTUM), on Monday blocked the institution’s main gate to protest alleged non-payment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to eligible students.

The protesters, chanting solidarity songs and carrying leaves, refused to vacate the entrance despite appeals by university officials, restricting access to the campus.

One of the students, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the protest aimed to compel the bursary department to release funds that had already been transferred to the school. “We applied for the loan and have not been paid, but we learnt the money has already been sent to the school. We are asking management to pay us, otherwise we will continue to block the gate,” he said.

However, the university management dismissed the claims, insisting that nearly all eligible students have received their payments.

Registrar Dr. John David explained that only 76 students had yet to benefit due to incomplete registration. “Registration means you have paid your fees and will then be refunded under NELFUND. If you did not pay, what exactly would be refunded to you?” he asked.

He clarified that NELFUND operates a refund system, reimbursing students based on the amount already paid as school fees. “If you paid N56,000 or N63,000, that is what you get back. If you only paid N200, you cannot expect a full refund,” he added.

Dr. David noted that officials, including the Dean of Students and the Chief Security Officer, tried to engage the protesters but were unable to do so due to the rowdy nature of the gathering. He also questioned the composition of the crowd, suggesting that some non-students may have joined the protest.

“The number of those yet to benefit is 76, yet more than 100 people were protesting. Many did not appear to be students and were behaving unusually. Normally, student leaders meet with management to discuss issues, but that did not happen here,” he said.

The registrar warned that the protest could disrupt academic activities, particularly as examinations are scheduled to begin shortly after the Easter break. “Lecturers are rounding off lectures for revision, and this protest will affect innocent students preparing for exams,” he said.

Dr. David added that the university might convene a meeting of the Committee of Deans and Directors to determine further action, including a possible temporary closure if the situation escalates.

Meanwhile, security personnel have been deployed to maintain order while efforts to resolve the standoff continue.