Alausa
Nigerian students studying abroad under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement and their parents are set to stage a protest today (Monday) over the non-payment of scholarship stipends, which they say has pushed many scholars into distress, The PUNCH learnt.
The demonstration, according to a notice issued by the Forum of BEA Scholars, will take place at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in the Central District of Abuja at 10am.
Parents of the affected students, who said they could no longer bear the financial and emotional strain of supporting their stranded children abroad, confirmed they would join the protest.
In the notice, the scholars said they are entitled to monthly stipends of $500 but have not received any payment this year, leaving 11 months outstanding.
They added that the Federal Government cut their 2024 stipends by 56 per cent, paying only $220 instead of the approved $500. According to the notice, the government still owes them arrears for September, October, November and December 2023.
Many of the students, who are studying in countries such as Hungary, Morocco, China, Russia and Serbia, said they were struggling to afford food, accommodation, medical care and transportation due to the prolonged delay.
The Forum of BEA Scholars said several students had taken informal jobs in violation of their scholarship terms, while others had been relying on charity. Punch
