Politics
Federal Government Details Reasons Behind Changes To Allowances For Stranded Foreign Students
Federal Government Details Reasons Behind Changes To Allowances For Stranded Foreign Students....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
On Friday, Education Minister Tahir Mamman announced that allowances for Nigerian students stranded abroad have been revised due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. This decision follows recent grievances from students in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, who have reported being unpaid for over 13 months…….. CONTINUE READING
These students are recipients of the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship, which supports educational exchanges between Nigeria and its partner nations. The Federal Scholarship Board, part of the Ministry of Education, manages these scholarships.
In a letter to the Education Minister, the scholars requested a reversal of the allowance reduction. The letter, obtained exclusively by our correspondent, detailed the financial strain the students are experiencing due to the delayed and reduced payments.
The letter stated: “We hope this letter finds you well. We, the students under the Union of Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS), wish to formally express our concern and strong opposition to the recent decision to reduce our allowances, as communicated in your letter dated July 23, 2024.
“Honourable Minister, we appreciate the Nigerian government’s efforts to support us so we can pursue our education without distraction. Despite our commitment to our studies, we have been struggling without our stipend for 13 months, leading many of us to take loans to cover living expenses amidst rising global inflation. The 56% reduction in our allowance will severely impact our ability to cover basic necessities such as housing, utilities, transportation, and food.
“The allowances are crucial for our focus on academic work without undue financial pressure.”
During a meeting with the National Association of Nigerian Students, Minister Mamman clarified the situation, stating, “We want to make it clear that there has been no cut in the allowances. Adjustments were made due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. We are awaiting additional funds to settle the outstanding amounts and will pay them as soon as they are available. The current budget dictates what we can pay, and while there has been no reduction, we would be pleased to increase the allowances if possible. These adjustments are a result of the current economic conditions.”
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