Recruits Stranded for 18 Months After Receiving NELFUND Appointment Letters

Dozens of Nigerians recruited by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in 2025 are facing severe financial and emotional hardship after being left in limbo for nearly 18 months. Despite receiving official appointment letters in January 2025 and completing mandatory documentation by February of that year, these individuals have yet to receive a resumption date or any clear communication regarding their employment status.

Many of the affected recruits resigned from their previous positions in anticipation of the new roles, believing they would start work shortly after the recruitment process concluded. Instead, they have been met with prolonged silence, leading to significant personal and financial strain as they wait for the agency to activate their appointments.

In an effort to resolve the impasse, the affected group has sent multiple petitions to both the Federal Ministry of Education and the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarship and Higher Education Financing. In their correspondence, they expressed continued commitment to the agency’s mission but emphasized that the ongoing uncertainty has become increasingly traumatic for them and their families.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, confirmed that he is aware of the situation and has held discussions with both the frustrated recruits and the management of NELFUND. He acknowledged that the agency had hired the personnel with the intention of rapid expansion, but encountered constraints that prevented their immediate integration.

Ehindero criticized the agency’s handling of the recruitment, stating that it was improper to issue offers of employment without the capacity to onboard the staff. However, he expressed optimism regarding the agency’s future, noting that NELFUND is expected to gain access to a 15 per cent Development Levy under the Tax Administration Act by January 2027. He pledged to intervene immediately to address the grievances of the stranded recruits, while urging patience as the agency continues to navigate its early stages of operation.