•Say they face eviction, hunger

Union of Nigerian Students, under the Federal Government Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship, has appealed to the Federal Government to address unpaid stipends, which, it says, is causing severe hardship among students.
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The students, who are currently studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary and few other countries, lamented that students enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends for the past six to eight months.

Spokesperson for the coalition of all Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Student Association, Ayuba Yushau, in a statement yesterday, observed that from the last payments the students received between March and August last year, there had been a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment.

He claimed that some students in China had not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May, 2023.

“This delay has led to dire consequences, especially for those residing in countries like Morocco, where the country doesn’t have adequate provisions for school hostels, unlike the other sister BEA countries. This means that stipends are crucial for covering basic expenses such as housing, electricity bills, handouts, internet bills, water bills, transportation and food. Regrettably, some students have faced eviction as they struggled to meet rent payments, while others have tragically fallen ill due to hunger, requiring urgent medical attention. This hardship persists amidst the ongoing delay in stipend disbursement”, Yushau stated.
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He further lamented that students in Russia were grappling with the harsh reality of an increased cost of living, exacerbated by the prolonged delay in stipend disbursement.

The statement added: “Forced to navigate financial hardship amid the pressure of academic stress, many students have been pushed to the breaking point, which is diverting their focus from their primary goal of academic excellence.

“Due to the economic reality of the nation, we receive insufficient or no additional support from our parents. Moreover, prohibitions on employment in many of our host BEA countries restrict our ability to supplement our incomes.

“We implore the Nigerian government to recognise the plight of its scholars abroad and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering. As the nation grapples with economic hardships, it is imperative to prioritise the welfare of our students, who represent the future of our country.”

The union appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the pressing matter, saying that the President’s intervention would ensure the prompt disbursement of stipends to the students.
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