BEA Scholars Raise Fresh Alarm Over Unpaid Stipends, Demand FG Clear Backlogs

"Only 23 per cent of the total 2025 stipend obligation has so far been paid, despite the amount budgeted for the year representing only 46 per cent of the actual requirement." UNBEAS

.... Says "the partial payment was made following repeated assurances that the outstanding balance would be released within two weeks."

.... Urges the Federal Government to honour the commitment without further delay."

The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has called on the Federal Government to urgently settle outstanding stipends owed Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programme.

The scholars, in a statement signed by their Public Relations Officer, Umar Gambo Adamu, PhD, acknowledged receipt of part-payment of their 2025 stipends, saying the disbursement had provided some relief but fell significantly short of the amount owed.

According to UNBEAS, only 23 per cent of the total 2025 stipend obligation has so far been paid, despite the amount budgeted for the year representing only 46 per cent of the actual requirement.

The union said the partial payment was made following repeated assurances that the outstanding balance would be released within two weeks, urging the Federal Government to honour the commitment without further delay.

The scholars expressed particular concern over the approaching September 30, 2026 deadline, warning that the closure of the 2024 and 2025 budget cycles could complicate efforts to settle outstanding obligations.

“Much still needs to be done,” the union said, appealing to the Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to ensure the immediate release of the remaining 2025 payment and other outstanding backlogs.

UNBEAS disclosed that scholars were still owed four months of stipends from 2023, alongside a separate shortfall of more than $1,000.

It further stated that only about 46 per cent of the total 2024 stipends had been paid, while no payment had been received for the 2026 academic year as of the time of issuing the statement.

The union appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Education, the Federal Scholarship Board and other stakeholders to intervene and expedite the settlement of all outstanding payments.

UNBEAS also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Ministries of Education and Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Federal Scholarship Board and the Union of Parents of BEA Scholars for their roles in facilitating the recent payment.

The scholars stressed that prompt payment of the outstanding stipends was essential to their welfare and academic progress, particularly for students who depend on the allowances for their upkeep while studying overseas.

For further enquiries: UNBEAS may be reached via Ngscholars_ on social media or Ngscholarsindiaspora@gmail.com. Contact numbers include +7 9252488367 (Russia), +234 9018459718 (Algeria), +36 204012463 (Hungary), +58 4125476013 (Venezuela), and +381 616324307 (Serbia).