Parents Protest in Abuja Over 16-Month Unpaid BEA Scholarship Allowances
Parents of Nigerian students studying abroad under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme on Monday staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, decrying the non-payment of 16 months’ arrears of living allowances.
Carrying placards and blocking the entrance of the ministry, the aggrieved parents said their children—who are studying in countries such as Russia, China, Hungary and Morocco—have been left stranded due to the government’s failure to meet its financial commitments.
The BEA scheme is a fully funded scholarship arrangement through which the Federal Government sponsors Nigerian students to partner countries. It covers tuition, accommodation and medical care, as well as a monthly living allowance of $500 for both undergraduate and postgraduate scholars.
However, in 2024, the stipend was reduced to $220 per month, a cut that parents say has further worsened the hardship faced by the beneficiaries abroad.
According to the protesters, the prolonged delay in disbursing the allowance arrears has left many students struggling to meet basic needs, with some reportedly facing accommodation and feeding challenges.
They called on the Ministry of Finance and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and release the outstanding payments to prevent further suffering of the affected scholars.
