The Federal Government, through the Federal Scholarship Board, has sent payment mandates to foreign embassies where Nigerian scholars under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) scholarship are currently studying.

The move comes after months of delayed allowances and a recent announcement of a slash in the scholars’ stipends due to economic crises.

The BEA scholarship, supervised by the Federal Scholarship Board under the Federal Ministry of Education, aims to facilitate educational exchanges between Nigeria and partnering countries. However, scholars in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria have been stranded for several months, with many resorting to taking loans to survive.

In a memo dated July 23, 2024, the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced adjustments to the scholars’ supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year. The memo attributed the allowance cut to budgetary provisions.

Ronald Donald, a leader of the scholars’ association in Russia, confirmed that the Federal Scholarship Board had sent the payment mandate to the various embassies two weeks ago. “The President from Algeria saw it; the mandate only carried payment for the readjusted amount ($220). An Attaché of the Russian embassy told me in a phone call that the embassy got the mandate,” he said.

Another scholar, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed hope that the Central Bank of Nigeria would soon release the funds, stating, “The FSB noted that the mandate for the payment has been sent, so it’s just for the CBN to release the money. We are hopeful.”

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