‘I Wonder What He Smoked’ – Onanuga Tackles Dino Melaye Over N20,000 NELFUND Claim

By Ameh Sunday Enyo-ojo

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, over his claim concerning the amount provided to students under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Melaye, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, had criticised the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, describing NELFUND as a “haven of corruption” and questioning the adequacy of the ₦20,000 upkeep allowance.

In a video circulating online, Melaye questioned how ₦20,000 could cover school fees at public tertiary institutions.

“Which government school takes N20,000 as annual school fees? Why is Tinubu claiming he’s paying students’ school fees when he’s giving them only N20,000?” Melaye said.

However, NELFUND’s official information states that the scheme provides loans for institutional charges, while an upkeep loan is paid into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. The Fund describes the student loan as an interest-free facility designed to support eligible students in higher institutions.

Responding to Melaye’s remarks, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) criticised the former senator and questioned his record on education-related interventions.

NANS also challenged Melaye to disclose what he had done for students in his constituency during his time in the Senate.

Onanuga subsequently backed NANS’ response in a post on X.

“NANS President delivers a stinging rebuke to Dino Melaye over his brazen lie that NELFUND gives students only N20,000 per year,” Onanuga wrote.

“You wonder what this former Senator and Atiku campaigner had smoked before going on TV,” he added.

The dispute centres on Melaye’s characterisation of the ₦20,000 payment and the broader scope of the NELFUND scheme, which includes institutional charges as well as upkeep support.

Melaye’s comments have added to the ongoing political debate over the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan programme and whether the financial support provided is sufficient to meet students’ education and living expenses.