FG reduces allowances of foreign scholars

Nigerian students studying abroad under the federal government’s Bilateral Education Agreement, BEA Scholarship, may encounter rough time in meeting their financial obligations in their schools following  reduction of their allowances by the government.

The students are reportedly stranded in the various countries where they are pursuing their studies.

Government reduced the allowance by 12.7 percent The reduction in the allowance affects students currently studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, among other countries.

The action, contained in a memo, dated July 23, 2024, and addressed to the students’ union, according to the federal government, was due largely to the biting hardship in the country occasioned by economic crisis.

In the memo, signed by the Director of Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A,on behalf of the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, government however, explained that the balance owed the students would be paid when money was available.

Recall that Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries, had recently cried out over their unpaid stipends for eight months.

Their president,Ayuba Anas, had claimed they were not paid for eight months.

“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,”Anas had claimed.

The Federal Scholarship Board ,under the Federal Ministry of Education, is the supervising agency for the BEA scholarship which is an exchange programme between Nigeria and the partnering countries.

“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,” government said in the memo.

According to the memo, the monthly allowances were reduced 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.

It added: “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.”