Parents of students benefiting from the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding payment of 16 months of arrears in living allowances.
The protesters occupied the ministry’s entrance, carrying placards to draw attention to their grievances.
The BEA Scholarship Programme is a fully funded initiative that enables Nigerian students to study abroad in partner countries, including Russia, China, Hungary, and Morocco. The programme covers tuition, accommodation, medical care, and provides a monthly living allowance of $500 for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
However, in 2024, the allowance was reportedly reduced to $220 per student per month, leaving many beneficiaries struggling abroad.
The parents said the government’s failure to disburse the arrears has left several students stranded in their host countries, unable to meet basic living expenses.
Details later…
