NELFUND February Upkeep Payment: Expected Date and What Students Should Know

Many students across Nigerian universities are currently asking one important question: when will NELFUND start paying upkeep again, especially for February? This concern is understandable, considering the long silence around payments and the growing cost of living for students.

Studentsdash has carefully looked at how NELFUND payments have worked in the past and what students should realistically expect going forward.

What happened to previous NELFUND payments?

NELFUND stopped paying upkeep around November 2025. That November upkeep was paid to students around December 2025. After that payment, NELFUND officially announced that there would be no upkeep payment for December. This announcement explained why students did not receive any money throughout December.

Since then, there has been no new payment, which has left many students worried and confused.

New academic session and application status

The 2025/2026 academic session has already started. During this period, many students applied for NELFUND, while others already have their applications showing Verified or Approved. This means NELFUND has not stopped working behind the scenes; they have been processing applications and preparing records.

This stage is very important because payment usually follows after verification and approval are completed.

When is payment likely to resume?

Based on previous patterns, NELFUND is most likely to resume upkeep payments around February or towards the end of February. However, students need to clearly understand one key point.

If NELFUND starts paying in February, the payment will most likely be for January upkeep, not February.

NELFUND usually pays one month behind. So a February disbursement typically covers January upkeep. February upkeep, if any, would come later.

Important things students should note

There is currently no fixed or official date announced for payment. Any date circulating online should be taken with caution unless confirmed by NELFUND.

Students who applied early and completed verification on time are more likely to receive payment earlier than others.

NELFUND is a loan, not free money. Every beneficiary is expected to repay the full amount two years after completing NYSC.

Even though payments have delayed, there is no indication that NELFUND has cancelled upkeep entirely. The delay is more about processing and scheduling.

What should students do now?

Students whose applications are already verified or approved should remain patient and regularly check their status. Those who have not applied or are still pending should complete any required steps as soon as possible.

Most importantly, students should rely on verified information and avoid rumors that cause unnecessary panic.

Studentsdash will continue to monitor the situation closely and share clear, honest updates as soon as anything changes.

For timely and reliable NELFUND updates, join the Studentsdash WhatsApp channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaog51mHbFVF2i4IJX3S/

Stay informed. Stay ahead.
Studentsdash
07075012541