The Nigerian Government has announced a 12.7% reduction in the allowances for foreign scholars studying under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship program. This decision affects Nigerian students currently studying in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria.
The reduction was detailed in a memo issued by the Federal Government, signed by Ndajiwo H.A., Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, on behalf of Education Minister Tahir Mamman. The memo explains that the reduced allowances are due to the country's ongoing economic difficulties, and that any outstanding payments will be made when funds become available.
Nigerian students studying abroad on Federal Government scholarships have recently voiced concerns over unpaid stipends, some of which have been overdue for up to eight months. The BEA scholarship program, which facilitates educational exchange between Nigeria and partner countries, is overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board under the Ministry of Education.
According to the memo, adjustments have been made to the BEA scholarship allowances for the 2024 academic year. Monthly allowances have been reduced from $500 to $220, the graduation allowance from $2,500 to $2,000, and the Post-Graduate research allowance from $1,000 to $500. Consequently, the total amount payable to each student has decreased from $5,650 to $4,370.
The memo further informed that the payment schedule for BEA scholars will reflect these new adjustments due to the economic situation, and that the balances owed for 2023 and 2024 will be settled as soon as funds are available.
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