The allowances paid to international scholars under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship have been cut by 12.7% by the Nigerian government.
The researchers are presently stuck in a number of nations, including Algeria, Morocco, and Russia.
The Nigerian government released a document announcing the allowance cut.
The Federal Government stated in a document signed by Minister of Education Tahir Mamman and the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., that any outstanding debts to the students would be settled as soon as funds become available.
The nation’s current economic crisis was cited by the government as the reason for the development.
Nigerian students enrolled on Federal Government scholarships in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other nations have recently bemoaned their unpaid stipends for eight months in a row.
Nigeria and the partner nations participate in an educational exchange initiative called the BEA scholarship. Under the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Scholarship Board is in charge of overseeing the program.
The memo said: “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.”
According to the message, the post-graduate research stipend was reduced from $1,000 to $500, the graduation allowance from $2,500 to $2,000, and the monthly allowance from $500 to $220.
$5,650 was the total that was initially due to each student; however, that amount has since been reduced to $4,370 per scholar.
The government stated, “The scholars’ association is hereby notified that, due to the prevailing economic situation, the payment mandate for the BEA scholars’ allowances will be as per the new adjustment.
“The balances for the years 2023 and 2024 owed to scholars will be paid as soon as the funds are made available.”
