In a shocking move, the Federal Government has slashed the allowances of foreign scholars currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, among others, by 12.7 percent. The government attributed its decision to the current economic crises.
This is even as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has described the decision as insensitive. They are calling on the government to reverse the decision with immediate effect.
Complaints of unpaid stipend
It would be recalled that recently, Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries, on the Federal Government’s scholarship, had lamented their unpaid stipends for eight months running.
What is the scholarship?
The students are studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship. The BEA scholarship is for the purpose of education exchange between Nigeria and the partnering countries, while the Federal Scholarship Board is supervising the scholarship under the Federal Ministry of Education.
The decision was contained in a memo dated July 23, 2024, signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
“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 memo, dated July 23, 2024, and addressed to the scholars’ association, read.
New monthly allowance of the scholars
According to the memo, the monthly allowances were slashed from $500 to $220; graduation allowance from $2,500 to $2,000; and the PG research allowance from $1,000 to $500, among others.
The total amount initially payable to each student was $5,650, but it will now be $4,370 per scholar.
“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,” the Board stated.
Reaction of the National Association of Nigerian Students
In a swift reaction, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) described the decision as insensitive. Calling on the government to reverse the decision with immediate effect.
In a chat with The Guardian, NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, explained that in his various engagements with the Education Minister, never was the issue of cutting the allowances of scholars studying abroad come up. He wondered the justification behind the slash when the government is yet to implement austerity measures against its officials.
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“We are not in support of the slash. We were not consulted. The Nigerian government has a bogus budget for other frivolities: housing allowance, travelling allowance, buying vehicles. Why will they be slashing the money of students? We are totally against that. They said it’s the economic situation but they are living large. Government officials are travelling. Why didn’t they stop overseas travel?
“If they can’t increase it, they should leave it the way it is. The Nigerian government should find another way to augment. Leave Nigerian students alone,” he said.
