The Nigerian government has reduced the allowances of foreign scholars studying under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship by 12.7 per cent.
The scholars are now stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among other countries.
The cut in allowances was disclosed in a memo released by the Nigeria government.
The Federal Government clarified in a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, that the amount owed to the students would be paid as soon as funds become available.
The government linked the development to the country’s present economic crisis.
Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries on Federal Government scholarships have complained about their underpaid stipends for eight months in a row.
The BEA scholarship is an educational exchange program between Nigeria and its partner nations. The Federal Scholarship Board oversees the scholarship program for the Federal Ministry of Education.
The memo said: “After due consultations, the Federal Scholarship Board has come up with adjustments in line with budgetary provisions in the payment of BEA scholar’s supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year.”
According to the memo, monthly allowances were reduced from $500 to $220, graduation allowances from $2,500 to $2,000, and Post-Graduate research allowances from $1,000 to $500.
The total initial amount payable to each student was $5,650, but it will now be $4,370 per scholar.
“The scholars’ association is hereby notified that due to the prevailing economic situation, the payment mandate for the BEA scholars’ allowances will be as per the new adjustment.
“The balances for the years 2023 and 2024 owed to scholars will be paid as soon as the funds are made available,” the government stated.