The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, has explained why dozens of staff recruited by the agency in 2025 are yet to assume duty, saying the exercise was suspended following a directive from the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
Sawyerr’s explanation comes days after The PUNCH exclusively reported that scores of successful applicants recruited by the Fund in January 2025 had remained in limbo despite receiving letters of employment and completing all required documentation.
Documents obtained by The PUNCH showed that the affected employees received letters of engagement on January 14, 2025, and completed the necessary employment documentation by February 3, 2025.
However, nearly 18 months later, they are yet to receive any official communication on when they will assume duty.
The prolonged delay prompted the affected workers, under the umbrella of 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, Scholarships and Higher Education Financing, Ifeoluwa Ehindero.
