The federal government has announced a reduction in financial support for students studying abroad under the Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship.
News About Nigeria reports that the due to economic challenges, the Federal Ministry of Education has cut allowances by 12.7% for students in countries like Russia, Morocco, and Algeria.
This decision affects students who have not received their stipends for eight months, causing financial hardship.
The scholarship program, managed by the Federal Scholarship Board, aims to promote educational exchange between Nigeria and partner countries.
However, the government’s decision to slash allowances has left students struggling to make ends meet.
The reduction includes a decrease in monthly allowances from $500 to $220 and a decrease in graduation and research allowances.
The ministry has attributed the decision to economic constraints and has promised to pay outstanding balances as soon as funds become available.
However, students’ union leaders have expressed concerns about the delay in payments, citing financial strain and shortfalls in previous payments.
According to the memo, the monthly allowances were slashed from $500 to $220; the graduation allowance from $2500 to $2000; and the PG research allowance was slashed from $1,000 to $500, among others.
The total for the payments initially paid was $5,650 per student but will now be $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.“
