The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has announced a 12.7% reduction in allowances for foreign scholars stranded in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, and other countries.
This decision is attributed to ongoing economic crises.
Nigerian students in these countries, studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship, have lamented eight months of unpaid stipends.
The BEA scholarship facilitates educational exchange between Nigeria and partnering countries, overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board under the Federal Ministry of Education.
The allowance cut was detailed in a memo signed by Ndajiwo H.A., Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. Dated July 23, 2024, the memo was addressed to the scholars’ association.
Monthly allowances were reduced from $500 to $220, graduation allowances from $2,500 to $2,000, and postgraduate research allowances from $1,000 to $500, reducing the total from $5,650 to $4,370 per student.
The memo stated, “After due consultations, the Federal Scholarship Board has come up with adjustments in line with budgetary provisions in the payment of BEA scholars’ supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year.”
The ministry assured that outstanding balances for 2023 and 2024 would be paid once funds become available, acknowledging the impact of the economic situation on the payment mandate for BEA scholars’ allowances.
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