The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a reduction in the allowances of foreign scholars studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship (BEA) program. The decision was made due to the country’s economic crises, according to a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board.
According to ThePunch, the memo was dated July 23, 2024, stated that the monthly allowance for BEA scholars has been slashed from $500 to $220, while the graduation allowance has been reduced from $2,500 to $2,000. The research allowance for postgraduate students has also been cut from $1,000 to $500.
The total amount paid to each student has decreased from $5,650 to $4,370. The scholars’ association was notified that the new payment mandate would take effect immediately, and any outstanding balances owed to scholars for 2023 and 2024 would be paid as soon as funds became available.
The move has sparked concerns among Nigerian students studying abroad, who have been facing financial difficulties due to delays in receiving their stipends. According to reports, some students have not received payments for close to eight months, with a recent payment shortfall of almost two and a half months.
The President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the Federal Government-controlled BEA Scholarship program, Ayuba Anas, had previously expressed frustration over the delay in payments. “For several months now, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have been struggling financially due to the delay in receiving their stipends,” he said.
The Federal Government’s decision to slash allowances is likely to exacerbate the financial struggles faced by Nigerian students studying abroad. However, it remains unclear how this decision will affect the scholars’ ability to complete their studies and return to Nigeria.
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