The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a 12.7% cut in allowances for students studying abroad in countries like Russia, Morocco, and Algeria due to economic challenges.
This decision affects students under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship.
A memo from the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., detailed the reductions: monthly supplementation allowances are now $220, down from $500; postgraduate research allowances are reduced to $500 from $1,000; and passage/graduation allowances are now $2,000, down from $2,500.
However, allowances for warm clothing, health insurance, pilot, and medical expenses remain unchanged.
The students, who have not received their stipends for over 13 months, expressed concerns about the impact on their welfare.
Ronald Donald, one of the affected scholars, highlighted the high cost of living in Russia and Morocco, noting that the current allowances are insufficient for survival.
He mentioned that the Nigerian embassy in Russia has been providing loans to help students in need, which are repaid when the scholarship board disburses funds.
Vanguard