NELFUND Clears the Air on Rumoured Increase in ₦20,000 Monthly Upkeep for Nigerian Students

There has been a lot of talk in the past few days about a possible increase in the monthly upkeep paid to students under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. Some posts, especially on social media, claimed the amount had been raised from ₦20,000 to ₦25,000.

That information is not correct.

In a statement released on March 30, 2026, the Fund addressed the issue directly. According to the update, the monthly upkeep allowance remains ₦20,000, and no approval has been given for any increase at this time. The clarification was signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who urged students to rely only on official updates.

For many students, the confusion was understandable. The upkeep allowance is often the only steady support they receive for day-to-day expenses—feeding, transport, and other basic needs—while tuition payments are handled separately and sent straight to their institutions. So when news of a possible increase started circulating, expectations rose quickly.

But as it stands, nothing has changed.

READ ALSO: How to fix NELFUND ‘Approved but not disbursed’ status – The real reason your ₦20,000 upkeep is delayed (March 2026)

It is also worth keeping in mind how the upkeep payments work. The money is tied to the academic calendar, which means students are paid during active school sessions. When schools are on break, payments may pause. This has led to questions in the past, especially from students who expect a continuous monthly inflow.

Since the scheme began in May 2024, the Fund has continued to expand its reach across the country. Disbursements have gone to hundreds of tertiary institutions, with tuition fees paid directly on behalf of students and upkeep allowances credited to beneficiaries. Universities such as Ahmadu Bello University and Delta State University are among those that have received significant funding for their students in recent months.

Even with that progress, the Fund acknowledges that there are still areas being improved, including processing timelines and reconciliation of pending payments from earlier batches. Students whose applications are still in progress are advised to keep checking their status through the official portal and ensure their institutions have completed the required verification.

For now, the position is clear: the monthly upkeep remains ₦20,000.

Students are encouraged to ignore unverified claims about increases and stick to information released through official NELFUND channels. Any future changes, if approved, will be communicated formally by the Fund.

Until then, what is confirmed is what stands.