Students threaten protest over delayed NELFUND refunds at Gombe varsity

Students at the Federal University Kashere in Gombe State are threatening to stage a peaceful protest due to the prolonged delay in refunding school fees paid prior to receiving support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The aggrieved students have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the President of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Kabir Danyaya, citing a lack of updates and visible action from the union leadership.

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For months now, there has been complete silence from the SRC leadership as if the issue does not exist and students’ money does not matter.

In a statement, the students expressed deep frustration over months of silence from the SRC, feeling their concerns and financial matters are being ignored. "For months now, there has been complete silence from the SRC leadership as if the issue does not exist and students’ money does not matter," the statement read. They had expected the SRC to actively advocate on their behalf and engage with relevant authorities regarding the delayed refunds.

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We elected the SRC President and trusted him to be our voice, to fight for us when the school and NELFUND were delaying our refunds. Up till now, there has been no update, no pressure and no visible action.

The students highlighted that they had contributed N1,000 each to the Students’ Representative Council, trusting the leadership to represent their interests. "We elected the SRC President and trusted him to be our voice, to fight for us when the school and NELFUND were delaying our refunds. Up till now, there has been no update, no pressure and no visible action," they stated, expressing disappointment that this trust is eroding.

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Every student paid N1,000 to support the Students’ Representative Council. We funded the council because we believed it would stand by us when necessary. Unfortunately, that trust is gradually being eroded.

Furthermore, the students alleged a lack of transparency in the refund process, suggesting that personal connections influence who receives their money back promptly. "Refund has now become a matter of connection. If you do not know somebody, your money simply remains pending. That situation is unfair, and the SRC should be at the forefront of demanding a transparent process," they said. The group warned that if no concrete action or update is provided within the 48-hour deadline, affected students will mobilize for a protest to reclaim their funds, emphasizing that NELFUND was intended to alleviate financial burdens, not create new hardships.

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Refund has now become a matter of connection. If you do not know somebody, your money simply remains pending. That situation is unfair, and the SRC should be at the forefront of demanding a transparent process.