The Federal Government has issued payment mandates to foreign embassies for scholars under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) scholarship program, confirming that allowances will be reduced due to budgetary constraints. The Federal Scholarship Board, which operates under the Federal Ministry of Education, has communicated the adjusted payments to embassies in countries like Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, where many Nigerian students have faced months of unpaid allowances.
This decision follows reports of scholars struggling to make ends meet, with some resorting to loans to survive. The allowance reduction was attributed to ongoing economic challenges, as detailed in a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. The memo indicated that the adjustments align with the budgetary provisions for the 2024 academic year.
Scholars have acknowledged receiving confirmation that payment mandates have been sent to the respective embassies, with hopes that the Central Bank of Nigeria will soon release the funds to alleviate their financial difficulties.
News Editor