Economy: FG Cuts Stranded Foreign Scholars Allowances

The Federal Government has slashed allowances of foreign scholars who are currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among others by 12.7%.

Recall that Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries, on the Federal Government’s scholarship lamented their unpaid stipends for eight months running.

The students are studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship.

The BEA scholarship is for the purpose of education exchange between Nigeria and the partnering countries. The Federal Scholarship Board is supervising the scholarship under the Federal Ministry of Education.

The government’s decision to reduce the allowances for foreign scholars was outlined in a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

The memo, dated July 23, 2024, and addressed to the scholars’ association, stated, “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 detailed significant reductions in the allowances provided to the scholars. Monthly allowances were cut from $500 to $220, while the graduation allowance was reduced from $2,500 to $2,000. Additionally, the postgraduate research allowance was decreased from $1,000 to $500. These cuts affect various financial supports the scholars receive.

Initially, the total amount paid to each student was $5,650. With the new adjustments, this amount has 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.“