The Federal Government has reduced the allowances of Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship by 12.7%, citing economic crises, leaving many scholars stranded and unpaid for over eight months.

The Federal Ministry of Education, 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, announced the reduction in allowances.

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 scholar’s supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year.”

The reduction affects students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries.

The monthly allowance has been slashed from $500 to $220, the graduation allowance from $2500 to $2000, and the PG research allowance from $1,000 to $500. The total payment per student has been reduced from $5,650 to $4,370.

The memo attributed the reduction to the “prevailing economic situation” and assured scholars that the balances for 2023 and 2024 owed to them will be paid as soon as funds are made available. The memo read, “The balances for the years 2023 and 2024 owed to scholars will be paid as soon as the funds are made available.”

Franktalknow.com