The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has called on the federal government to urgently address delayed stipends and a 56% reduction in allowances affecting Nigerian students abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship.
The scholars expressed frustration over prolonged payment delays, stating that many students are now stranded and struggling to survive. According to UNBEAS, the last stipend payment covered January to August 2023, but it fell short by over two months’ worth of allowances due to exchange rate fluctuations.
Payments for September to December 2023 remain unpaid. Despite enduring over a year without financial support, scholars only received another stipend in September 2024. However, instead of clearing the outstanding arrears, they were informed that their stipends had been reduced from $500 to $220.
The union emphasized the severe hardship students face, particularly those from struggling families. Many scholars, including orphans, rely solely on these stipends, as their families can no longer afford to support them due to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In Morocco, where there is no government-provided accommodation, students depend entirely on stipends to pay rent, but many have been evicted due to delayed payments. Others have gone without food for days, with some reportedly falling ill from hunger but unable to afford medical care. Similar struggles have been reported among Nigerian scholars in Russia, Algeria, China, Venezuela, and Hungary.
While the government has attributed the stipend reduction to foreign exchange fluctuations, UNBEAS raised concerns about insufficient allocations in the 2025 budget, warning that the situation could worsen if not addressed. The scholars are appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and relevant government agencies to intervene.
They are calling for the immediate payment of all outstanding stipends, reimbursement of the 56% cut in allowances, and timely disbursement of funds in 2025 to prevent further hardship. They also demand the full restoration of the $500 stipend, arguing that $220 is inadequate for basic living expenses.
In their appeal, the scholars stressed that they are not asking for luxury but simply seeking survival. They urged the government to fulfill its obligations before lives are lost to hunger, sickness, and despair. The union also called on the media, civil society organizations, and concerned Nigerians to amplify their demands for urgent intervention.
