The Union of Nigeria Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has issued an urgent plea to President Bola Tinubu, seeking immediate intervention in the release of 14 months’ worth of stipends owed to Nigerian scholars studying abroad.
The scholars, who are pursuing academic programs in countries including Hungary, Morocco, China, Serbia, Algeria, Venezuela, and Russia, have been plunged into financial distress due to persistent delays in their stipend payments.
In a statement released on Tuesday, UNBEAS highlighted the dire situation these scholars face, as many are now grappling with severe economic hardship.
The prolonged delay has forced numerous students to engage in strenuous labor and other means of survival, detracting from their academic focus and well-being.
“House rent and other utilities, food, and transportation have become unaffordable for the average FG scholar who has been owed since July 2023,” the union’s statement read.
This delay has not only strained their day-to-day living conditions but also adversely affected their academic performance.
Reports from the union indicate that the pressure has led some scholars to contemplate suicide, while others face eviction and legal threats from landlords and creditors who are growing increasingly impatient.
The situation has been exacerbated by a memo from the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), dated July 23, which announced a 56% reduction in the monthly stipends due to adjustments in the domestic exchange rate.
Despite this reduction, the promised funds have yet to be disbursed.
According to the union, the funds were sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for transmission to the various Nigerian embassies, but the embassies have yet to receive the payments.
Efforts by the union to obtain clarity from the CBN regarding the status of these funds have so far been unsuccessful, adding to the scholars’ frustration and anxiety.
UNBEAS has called on the CBN to expedite the payment process and has urged the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to take immediate action to ensure that both the adjusted 2024 stipends and the outstanding six months of 2023 stipends are released without further delay.
In a poignant appeal, the union warned, “To forsake us now is to condemn us to a life in the shadows.”
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