 have raised concerns over the non-payment of their allowances by the Federal Government.){kind=link}
Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) have raised concerns over the non-payment of their allowances by the Federal Government.
They have called on Dr. Yusuf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, to urgently reconsider the government’s position on the payment of their stipends.
Representing the Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars, the students revealed that they are owed $6,720 for the years 2023 and 2024, in addition to unpaid stipends from January to April 2025.
In a statement shared on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the students accused the Ministry of Education of providing inaccurate information regarding their welfare.
They rejected claims that all previous payments had been made and that their needs were fully covered by their host countries.
“The claim that host countries provide full accommodation and monthly stipends is false in many instances. For example, there is no government-provided housing in Morocco, and in Algeria, students receive only $70 every four months — which cannot be considered a stipend,” the statement emphasized.
In response, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of the students. A statement from the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, assured all stakeholders that the government remained dedicated to fulfilling its obligations to BEA scholars.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that all supplementary allowances for the students had been paid up to December 2024.
However, it acknowledged that fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate had resulted in some shortfalls in fund disbursements.
The Ministry revealed that it had formally requested additional funding to ensure full payment of all entitlements to the affected students.
“The BEA scholarship programme has been included in the Ministry’s Capital Budget. With the extension of the 2024 Capital Budget, the disbursement of funds under the 2025 Capital Budget is expected to begin once its implementation starts,” the statement concluded.
“The Ministry assures stakeholders of its continuous support for Nigerian scholars abroad and is working hard to meet all its obligations promptly and effectively.”