FG Instructs Embassies to Cut Scholars’ Allowances

The Federal Government, through the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), has issued payment directives to embassies where Nigerian students, studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) scholarship, are enrolled, The PUNCH has learned.

The BEA scholarship is designed to facilitate educational exchanges between Nigeria and participating countries. The scholarship program is overseen by the FSB under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.

The PUNCH had previously reported on the reduction in stipends for foreign scholars who are currently facing hardship in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among others.

These scholars had experienced prolonged delays in receiving their allowances, with many resorting to borrowing money to make ends meet.

The ministry cited economic challenges as the reason for the reduction in allowances.

The government’s decision to reduce the scholars’ stipends and its commitment to settling the outstanding payments were detailed in a memo signed by the Director of the FSB, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

“Following extensive consultations, the FSB has made adjustments in accordance with budgetary constraints regarding the payment of BEA scholars’ supplementary allowances for the 2024 academic year,” stated the memo, which was addressed to the scholars’ association and dated July 23, 2024.

Speaking to our correspondent on Monday, a leading member of the scholars’ association in Russia, Ronald Donald, confirmed that the scholars were aware of the payment mandate being sent to the embassies.

“FSB sent the payment directive to the embassies two weeks ago. The President from Algeria confirmed seeing it; the directive only included payment for the revised amount (the $220).

A Russian embassy Attaché informed me over the phone that the embassy had received the directive.”

Another scholar, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed, “Yes, the FSB indicated that the payment directive has been issued, so now it’s just a matter of waiting for the CBN to release the funds. We remain optimistic.”