Students of Gombe State University who received payments from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) have been directed to return a portion of the money following what the institution described as a “technical error.”

In a memo circulated by the Dean of Students’ Affairs Division, Prof. Rasheed Abdulganiy, the university stated that an unspecified number of students had excess funds paid into their accounts due to an error in the approved fee disbursement process.

“The underlisted students are hereby directed to refund the excess fund paid into their accounts as NELFund approved school fees due to technical error,” the statement read in part.

The university has ordered the affected students to pay back the money by February 20, 2026, into a designated Zenith Bank account belonging to Gombe State University. It warned that failure to comply immediately would result in disciplinary action.

The memo did not disclose the number of affected students or the total amount involved. Authorities are yet to clarify whether the error originated from the university or the NELFund system.

NELFund was established to provide loans and financial aid to qualified Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.