Credible sources at the Federal Ministry of Education have dismissed reports alleging that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is responsible for the delay in the resumption of newly recruited employees of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The sources maintained that there is currently no approval for any recruitment exercise at NELFUND, arguing that the agency is already overstaffed, with many employees reportedly lacking office space and clearly defined responsibilities.
According to the sources, reports suggesting that the Minister directed a delay in the resumption of newly recruited staff are inaccurate.
They insisted that the issue predates the Minister’s involvement and has its roots in internal management and governance concerns within the agency.
The sources explained that before the Minister became involved, NELFUND’s executive management met with the Board Chairman, Jim Ovia, in Lagos, where the recruitment exercise was reportedly suspended.
They said the Chairman ruled that the exercise was unnecessary because it had neither received board approval nor undergone formal management consideration.
According to the sources, the agency’s three Executive Directors had requested documentary evidence authorising the recruitment from the Managing Director, but their request was allegedly not honoured.
Despite their objections, the Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, was said to have continued the recruitment process and documentation outside established administrative procedures.
The sources further claimed that the Board Chairman directed that individuals recruited through the disputed process should not be placed on the agency’s payroll pending a review.
Ovia also reportedly ordered a comprehensive assessment of staff grades and organisational structure to ensure transparency and compliance with due process.
They further alleged that after a subsequent meeting with the Minister of Education, the Managing Director convened a private meeting with close associates and indicated his intention to proceed with the recruitment exercise despite earlier directives.
The Ministry sources advised that the Board Secretary and the Executive Director of Operations could verify the decisions reached during the Lagos meeting, including the recruitment freeze and the planned review of staff structure.
They also expressed concern over what they described as an alarming staffing situation within NELFUND, claiming that about 80 per cent of the workforce is currently underutilised.
According to them, the issue was discussed extensively at a recent management meeting, where senior officials reportedly agreed on the need to address the agency’s manpower imbalance before any additional recruitment is considered.
The sources added that, in their view, the intervention of the Minister of Education has helped stabilise the organisation and prevented what they described as a potential institutional crisis.
