The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has announced a slash of 12.7% in allowances for Nigerians on scholarship abroad who are currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, among other countries.
The slash was announced through the Federal Ministry of Education, and it was attributed to the adjustment to current economic crises in Nigeria.
The students who are beneficiaries of the Nigerian government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship aimed at fostering educational exchange, have reportedly been experiencing unpaid stipends for the past eight months.
The scholarship is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education’s Federal Scholarship Board.
The reduction in the scholars’ allowance was announced 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, explained that monthly allowances were reduced from $500 to $220, graduation allowances from $2500 to $2000, and PG research allowances from $1,000 to $500, among other reductions, The PUNCH reports.
Previously totaling $5,650 per student, these payments will now amount to $4,370.
“The Scholars’ Association is hereby informed that, due to the current economic circumstances, the payment structure for BEA scholars’ allowances will adhere to these new adjustments,” the memo stated.
The ministry assured that outstanding balances for the years 2023 and 2024 will be settled as soon as funding becomes available.
Ayuba Anas, President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the scholarship, previously expressed concerns about the delays, noted that scholars have endured financial strain, with some not receiving stipends since arriving in China in April and May 2023.
