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The federal government announced that it would cut the allowances of foreign scholars currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, Algeria and other countries by 12.7%.
The Federal Ministry of Education blamed the phenomenon on the economic crisis.
Earlier, Nigerian students who were awarded federal government scholarships to study in these foreign countries had complained that their scholarships had not been paid for eight months.
These students study under the framework of the Federal Government’s bilateral education agreement scholarships.
The BEA Scholarship is aimed at promoting educational exchange between Nigeria and partner countries.
The Federal Scholarship Commission is the scholarship oversight body under the Federal Ministry of Education.
The government’s decision to cut scholars’ allowances was contained in a memorandum signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarships Commission, Ndajiwo HA, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman.
The memo, dated July 23, 2024 and sent to the scholars’ association, reads: “After due consultation, the Federal Scholarship Commission has made adjustments to the supplemental allowance payments for BEA scholars for the 2024 academic year in accordance with budget provisions.”
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The memo said that the monthly stipend would be cut from $500 to $220; the graduation stipend would be cut from $2,500 to $2,000; and the graduate research stipend would be cut from $1,000 to $500, etc.
The total amount of payments was originally $5,650 per student, but will now be $4,370
“The Scholars Association is hereby notified that due to the current economic situation, the payment requirements for BEA Scholars’ stipends will be implemented as per the new adjustments.
The ministry added: “We will pay the balance owed to scholars for 2023 and 2024 as soon as the funds become available.”
Ayuba Anas, president of the Students’ Union of the Federal Government-controlled Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship Program in Nigeria, recently said the scholars have not been paid for nearly eight months.
“In the past six to eight months, scholars studying at various universities abroad have faced financial pressure due to failure to receive scholarships in time.
“In addition, from the last payment we received (March to August), there is actually a gap of two and a half months of payment. In addition, some Chinese students have not received any allowances since they arrived in China in April and May 2023,” Anas said.
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