The Federal Government has announced through the Federal Ministry of Education, a reduction in the allowances of Nigerian students currently studying under the Bilateral education scholarship. This announcement was relayed in a letter dated 23rd July 2024 and signed by the Director/secretary of the Federal Scholarship Board, Mrs H. A. Ndajiwo.
The adjustment according to the ministry occurs because of the prevailing economic situation in the country.
The students are studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship, a foreign exchange program between Nigeria and its partner countries including Russia, Morocco, and other countries.
According to the letter addressed to the president of the Association of Nigerian BEA students in Russia, it 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 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.
The ministry also assured that stipends owed to the foreign scholars would be paid.
Reports from 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. The ministry said:
“The balances for the years 2023 and 2024 owed to scholars will be paid as soon as the funds are made available.”
Increased cost of living is currently affecting all economies around the world. There is global inflation according to reports by the IMF. A slash in the stipends from the Federal Government is a breach of the award letter issued to the students who probably have no source of income to study in those foreign countries.
What alternatives do these students resort to in terms of funding? Are they able to access the newly implemented student loans? Is it okay for the government to reduce the agreed amount for their welfare? Is reducing welfare of Nigerian students in foreign countries the only means of reducing government spending?
