Minister’s directive delayed NELFUND employees’ resumption – MD, Sawyerr

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is facing scrutiny as dozens of staff recruited in 2025 have yet to assume their duties, a delay attributed to a directive from the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Successful applicants received their letters of engagement on January 14, 2025, and completed all necessary employment documentation by February 3, 2025. However, nearly 18 months later, they remain in limbo without official communication regarding their resumption date. This prolonged delay has prompted the affected workers, organized as the New NELFUND Employees Awaiting Resumption, to petition key government officials, including the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans.

Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, explained that the recruitment exercise was conducted in good faith to fulfill the agency's mandate, which includes providing academic and skills acquisition support. However, he confirmed that the supervising minister subsequently issued a directive to halt further implementation of the recruitment.

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NELFUND has a dual mandate: academic and skills acquisition. Those who were recruited but have yet to assume duties were recruited in good faith in the fulfilment of that mandate. There is no doubt about this.

Sawyerr emphasized that NELFUND lacks the authority to override the minister's directive. He assured that the agency remains committed to engaging the successful applicants once approval is granted and the embargo is lifted. The situation has created significant uncertainty for these individuals, many of whom resigned from previous positions or made financial commitments in anticipation of their new roles.

NELFUND was established under the Student Loans Act to provide interest-free loans to eligible Nigerian students, aiming to expand access to higher education through sustainable financing. The fund commenced operations in 2024 as a flagship Federal Government initiative.

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But the Minister of Education, who is our supervising minister, asked us to put an embargo on employment after the recruitment exercise. This is the simple situation.