Omotayo Adigun
Nigerian students studying overseas under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship are facing severe financial hardship due to prolonged stipend delays and drastic reductions in payments.
The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government, warning that students are struggling with hunger, eviction, and mental health crises.
According to a press statement released by UNBEAS on March 7, the crisis escalated due to payment inconsistencies. While stipends were last paid between January and August 2023, exchange rate fluctuations led to severe shortfalls. Payments were halted entirely in September 2023, leaving students stranded. A delayed stipend in September 2024 came with a 56% cut, reducing the monthly allowance from $500 to $220.
“The justification given was that top civil servants in Nigeria do not earn as much under the current exchange rate—a comparison that ignores the fact that students live in foreign countries with rising living costs,” UNBEAS stated.
The financial crisis has had devastating effects. In Morocco, students have been evicted from their housing. In Russia, Algeria, China, Venezuela, and Hungary—where students rely solely on stipends—many are struggling to survive. Hungary’s strict immigration laws prevent students from taking part-time jobs, pushing some into desperate measures like shoplifting. Others report suffering from depression and a lack of medical care.
The Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) has reportedly informed students that the next payment is not expected until mid-2025, with no guarantee of back payments.
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UNBEAS is demanding urgent intervention and has outlined the following key requests:
Immediate payment of outstanding stipends from September to December 2023.
Full supplementation of the 2023 shortfall.
Restoration of the $500 monthly stipend.
Timely payments in 2025 to prevent further hardship.
The union is calling on the President, National Assembly, and relevant agencies to take swift action. It also urges the media, civil society, and the Nigerian public to amplify their voices, warning that without immediate intervention, more students could lose their education, health, and even their lives.