The union rejected the proposed reduction in monthly allowances paid to overseas BEA scholars, as communicated in a letter from the Minister of Education through the director federal scholarship board dated 23rdJuly 2024.
“We also aim to clarify and refute the false information circulating regarding the percentage of the reduction.
“The Minister of Education’s recent decision to reduce the monthly allowances by a staggering 56% has raised significant concern and alarm among our scholars and their families. Contrary to the misleading reports suggesting a 12.7% reduction, the actual figure is much higher and poses a severe threat to the financial stability and academic success of our scholars abroad.
“The BEA Scholarship is a bilateral agreement whereby the host country pays the scholar’s tuition fees, while the Nigerian government pays each scholar a monthly stipend of $500 to cover basic living expenses such as housing, water and electricity bills, food, transportation, and educational materials, all of which are often significantly higher abroad.
