THE PLIGHT OF SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

The authorities should please pay the allowances of students abroad promptly

It is disturbing that the stipends of Nigerians studying abroad on scholarship have not been paid in the past 11 months by the federal government. “Some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023. In Russia, students are struggling with the increased cost of living due to sanctions,” according to their statement referenced by a national newspaper during the week. These are students studying under the federal government’s bilateral educational agreement scholarship with partnering countries, a scheme supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education. “This pattern of delayed payments has persisted for years, diverting our focus from academic pursuits to survival (contemplating our next meal, daily transport, pending payments, medical expenses, and housing.)”

Over the years, unpaid allowances have become a pervasive issue plaguing Nigerian scholars abroad, and impacting badly on their pursuit of academic excellence. These scholars, entrusted with representing their country on the global stage, face numerous challenges when essential allowances, such as tuition and living stipends, remain unpaid. As of today, Nigerian students studying in Morocco, Algeria, China, Russia,  Hungary, and other countries, on a federal government scholarship scheme are owed their basic allowances as the culture of delayed payment seems to have taken root.

This delay has also led to dire consequences, especially for those residing in countries like Morocco, where the country doesn’t have adequate provisions for school hostels, unlike the other sister BEA countries. This means that stipends are crucial for covering basic expenses such as housing, electricity bills, handouts, internet bills, water bills, transportation, and food. Many of these students are now going through harrowing times for no fault of theirs.

This systemic issue not only undermines the potential of Nigerian scholars but also tarnishes the reputation of Nigerian academia on the international platform. Without financial stability, scholars grapple with stress, distraction, and even potential expulsion due to unpaid fees, hindering their focus on studies and research. Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding their financial situation erodes their motivation, leading to a decline in academic performance and diminishing the quality of their research output.

For the Nigerian scholars in Russia, the situation is worse given the level of hardship facing the people as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine. There were reports that some of the students had to settle for menial jobs to survive. According to the spokesperson for the parents’ group, Kola Benson, since last June, when the students received their last payment, they have not been paid with most of the parents having to beg relatives to send financial support to their wards.

Curiously, a government that seems to have imbibed a culture of delay in the payment of the allowances for the existing scholars has not deemed it fit to suspend the enrolment of new scholars as it selected a new set numbering 179 to study in various institutions in Russia under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) last November. President Bola Tinubu should wade into this crisis and save the innocent children from avoidable embarrassments in foreign lands. All obstacles to prompt payment of these allowances should be tackled immediately.

To renew the hope of Nigerian scholars, the government should implement transparent budget allocation by ensuring sufficient funds are allocated in the federal budget specifically designated for the payment of Nigerian scholars abroad. The government should also establish an effective monitoring mechanism to track the disbursement of allowances from the federal government to relevant agencies. Again, there is a need to streamline administrative processes involved in disbursing allowances to scholars abroad and improve communication channels between the government, relevant agencies, and scholars abroad.