The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, revealed that only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students in various tertiary institutions instead of N100 billion released to the schools.

The anti-graft agency specifically said its preliminary investigations have uncovered that not less than N71.2 billion have been diverted by the management of different universities who had taken custody of funds.

The spokesman of the commission, Demola Bakare, told journalists in Abuja that key stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Budget Office and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been invited.

Bakare also disclosed that senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NELFUND were invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.

Daily Trust reports that the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, had two weeks raised the alarm that the universities were trying to sabotage the Tinubu-led government on the students’ loan scheme.

Issa-Onilu alleged that no fewer than 51 tertiary institutions were implicated in illegal deductions and exploitation related to the NELFUND scheme, while calling on the anti-graft agencies to unravel the fraud and halt it.

Similarly, reports from the media also alleged that these institutions were said to have made unauthorized deductions ranging from N3,500 to N30,000 from each student’s institutional fees received through the loan fund.

Giving an update on the issue, the ICPC spokesman explained that the commission had since swung into action following the alarm, adding that those found culpable would be brought to book.

Bakare said, “The Commission confirmed that its Chairman’s Special Task Force immediately swung into action upon receiving the report.

“Letters of investigation and invitations were dispatched to key stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Accountant General of the Federation, and senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NELFUND were invited to provide documentation and explanations relevant to the case.

“Preliminary findings revealed a significant gap in the financial records of the disbursement process. While the Federal Government reportedly released N100 billion for the scheme, only N28.8 billion was disbursed to students, leaving an unaccounted sum of N71.2 billion.”

While giving the breakdown of the NELFUND’s records, Bakare said the ICPC’s strength of investigation revealed that the total money received by NELFUND as of March 19, 2024, was N203.8 billion.

 “The breakdown showed that N10 Billion was an allocation from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, N50 billion was from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, N71.9B was from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, while another N71.9 billion was also from the same Tertiary Education Trust Fund,” the ICPC official told journalists.

According to him, responses received by the commission were critically analyzed, and interviews were conducted with the concerned individuals.

He noted that the ICPC, however, found that the total amount disbursed to institutions from inception to date is about N44,200,933,649.00, while a total of 299 institutions have benefited from the funds released.

“To date, the total amount disbursed to 299 beneficiary institutions stands at approximately N44.2 billion, with 293,178 students having benefited from the fund.

“The ICPC confirmed that a clear case of discrepancies has been established in the administration of the student loan scheme and announced that its investigation will now extend to beneficiary institutions and individual student recipients.”

He said the commission would from time-to-time provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

“Comprehensive investigations into the alleged discrepancies surrounding the disbursement of students’ loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has commenced,” he stated.

Daily Trust Credited

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By Amaechi Agbo

The President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) Dr Abdul Ibrahim has charged the athletes representing Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship win gold medals for the country.

Dr Abdul gave the charge on Wednesday while addressing the athletes at their training camp in Moka, venue of the championship in Mauritius

According to the Media Officer of the federation, Mr Amaechi Agbo in a press release on Wednesday, he noted that the NWF President expressed delight over the commitment of the athletes, expressed gratitude to the National Sports Commission for their support and promised that the athletes would deliver the medals.

“I want to, on behalf of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation Board, thank you all for your commitment. You athletes are wonderful and your coaches are doing excellent job to put you in good shape for the championship. We have always excelled in this competition and at no time would we lower the standard, instead we will upgrade. Our mission here is to win gold and i urge you to go for gold. It is better you aim for the moon so that even if you miss it, you can hold unto the stars.

“Our coming here wouldn’t have been possible without the massive support of the National Sports Commission and we are pleased to have the Director General, Hon Bukola Olapde with us here. He has been with us since Sunday and we are honoured. The coming of the NSC is changing the face of sports in Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade has donated the sum of N 6.114 million to the athletes and officials of Nigeria contingent at the Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship in Mauritius.

The DG who arrived Moka in Mauritius over the weekend announced a personal donation of $3, 800 (N6.114 Million) to the athletes stressing that the gesture is his personal way of motivating the athletes and officials to know that the Commission is solidly behind them.

He made the donation during a meeting with the athletes, officials and some board members of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, (NWF) on Wednesday and encouraged the athletes to conquer the continent  

“The Chairman of the Commission Mallam Shehu Dikko, is aware of your being here, so he sent me and told me that I should remind you that weightlifting is part of the sport that as a country, we have a competitive edge as far as Africa and the World is concerned. Therefore, you must try to win a lot of medals here in Mauritius.

“My slogan for you here in Mauritius is, more Gold, more money. As you are winning, you are getting your alert.

“I am also glad to inform you all that four of you have been shortlisted into the A Category of the Elite Programme of the Elite Athletes and Podium Board of the Commission and will get 20,000 Dollars each as your annual training grants. And by next week, the four of you will get 5000 Dollars each as part of your training Grants instalment.

“Your welfare is very paramount to us and it is a core mandate of the Commission under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to prioritise the welfare and well-being of our Elite Athletes.

“With this, you guys can now concentrate on your preparations without any distractions for the Commonwealth Games, the World Championship and ultimately the Olympic Games”, he concluded.

The 2025 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship (ASWC) in Mauritius officially commenced on Wednesday and  four Nigeria athletes will be competing on Thursday.

Didih Onome Omolola in 55kg and Lawal Rafiatu Folashade 59kg will be in action in the morning while Tuesday Emmanuel, featuring in 67kg and Umoafia Edidiong Joseph in 73kg will compete later.

Nigeria’s participation in the championship will be rounded off on Friday with Ayodele Ruth Imoleayo featuring in 64kg and Matthew Sarah Ovayioza competing in the 76kg women categories.

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The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has assured that corps members who recently completed their service will receive arrears of the newly approved N77,000 allowance.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the Batch A 2025 Pre-Mobilisation Workshop for heads of corps-producing institutions and other stakeholders, the DG noted that the payment of the new allowance began in March, eight months after President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage law.

“The government is conscious of its promise, and within the budgetary provision, it will handle the arrears. Once funds are released to us, we will pay them,” Nafiu said.

He assured that corps members who recently passed out would not be left out of the arrear payment.

 “Even those who have completed their service will benefit. Once we receive the necessary funds, we will credit them-we have their bank details. Nigerians should not worry; the government is responsible and responsive to their needs,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of Corps Mobilisation, Mohammed Abubakar, raised concerns over the continued fraudulent enrolment of unqualified graduates by some tertiary institutions.

“Despite remarkable progress in recent years, we still face serious issues, particularly the fraudulent uploading of unqualified graduates, which must be tackled,” he stated.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, highlighted the need to reform the NYSC in alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“As Nigeria evolves, so must the NYSC. We must bridge the gaps and ensure the scheme adequately prepares graduates for the job market,” he said.

Daily Trust Credited.

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