The Federal Government has reduced the allowances for Nigerian students studying under a scholarship program in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, citing economic hardship in Nigeria.
The Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., in a statement signed on behalf of the Minister of Education, noted that the students are beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship, aimed at fostering educational exchange between Nigeria and partner countries.
“I am directed to inform you that the prevailing situation concerning the domestic exchange rate in Nigeria makes it difficult for the Federal Scholarship Board to sustain the payment of Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholars’ allowances as contained in the award letters issued at the point of departure to the host Countries,” the statement partly read.
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According to the new directive, the monthly allowances have been slashed from $500 to $220, the graduation allowance from $2500 to $2000, and the postgraduate research allowance from $1000 to $500. While the total payments per student initially amounted to $5650, they will now receive $4370.
However, allowances for health insurance, pilot, and medical expenses remain unchanged at $200, $700, and $500, respectively.
“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,” Ndajiwo noted.
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The students said they have not received their stipends for 13 months, forcing them to engage in hard labour and taking loans in the foreign countries.
Ronald Donald, one of the affected scholars in Russia, told Punch, lamented the delay and reduction of their stipends, saying living in places like Russia and Morocco is challenging.
“In Russia, a student needs a minimum of $300 to survive,” he said. “The bus fares are expensive, and the hostel prices are up. Bread used to be sold for 70 rubbles is now 120 rubbles.”
“In Morocco, the students don’t have hostels provided for them. As such, they rent apartments (at a starting price of $200 a month). Normally, the embassy in Russia gives out loans to students in difficulty. They take the money back when FSB pays.”
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Another student said they were under the agreement to be paid $500 per month but have not been paid since June 2023.
This, he said, has forced some of them to engage in exploitative illegal labour such as washing plates and construction.
“I personally have worked in a soap warehouse and restaurant for 12 and 14 hours at a stretch respectively with reduced pay against the agreement and host country’s visa.
“A few months ago after several agitations and representations by our parents, our parents were encouraged by the FG to take loans to the tune of millions because of the exchange rate and the rising cost of living in our host counties to send to us for our survival with the promise that the situation will be sorted out and our stipends would be paid suddenly yesterday they released a memo slashing our stipends by 56%. How are we to pay back the loans or even survive?”
