The Nigerian Government, via the Federal Ministry of Education, has reduced the allowances for foreign scholars who are presently stranded in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria by 12.7%.
The ministry clarified that this measure is a response to the ongoing economic crises.
Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries under the Federal Government’s scholarship have expressed their concerns about not receiving their stipends for the past eight months.
The students are enrolled in the Federal Government’s scholarship program through the Bilateral Educational Agreement.
The BEA scholarship is designed to facilitate educational exchanges between Nigeria and its partner nations.
The Federal Scholarship Board is overseeing the scholarship program on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The government’s resolution to reduce the allowances for scholars was outlined in a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., representing the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman..
“After due consultations, the Federal Scholarship Board has come up with adjustments in line with budgetary provisions in the payment of BEA scholar’s supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year,” the memo, dated July 23, 2024, and addressed to the scholars’ association, read.
The memo states that the monthly allowances have been reduced from $500 to $220, the graduation allowance has decreased from $2,500 to $2,000, and the postgraduate research allowance has been cut from $1,000 to $500, among other reductions.
The original payment amount was $5,650 per student, but it has now been reduced to $4,370.
“The Scholars’ Association is hereby notified that due to the prevailing economic situation, the payment mandate for the BEA scholars’ allowances will be as per the new adjustment.
“The balances for the years 2023 and 2024 owed to scholars will be paid as soon as the funds are made available,” the ministry said.
Recently, the President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the Federal Government-controlled Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship, Ayuba Anas, said the scholars had not been paid for close to eight months.
Anas said, “For the past six to eight months, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends.
“In addition, from the last payments we received (March-August), there was a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment. Moreover, some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023.“
