OBLIGATION TO NIGERIAN SCHOLARS ABROAD
Government should pay the outstanding fees promptly to avoid further embarrassment
One of the tragic failures of successive administrations in the country is the inability to meet obligation in the bilateral education arrangements with foreign countries, thereby exposing Nigerian scholars abroad to financial crisis from time to time. As of today, Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries, on a federal government scholarship scheme are owed their basic allowances and this culture of delayed payment seems to have come to stay. The students are studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship with partnering countries, a scheme supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education.
In February, the President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the federal government-controlled Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship, Ayuba Anas, said the scholars had not been paid for eight months. This delay has 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.
Over the years, unpaid allowances have become a pervasive issue plaguing Nigerian scholars abroad, detrimentally impacting 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. 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.
This systemic issue not only undermines the potential of Nigerian scholars but also tarnishes the reputation of Nigerian academia on the international platform, urging immediate attention and resolution from relevant authorities. 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 and engage in distraction which is already causing academic setbacks to them. According to the spokesperson for the parents’ group, Kola Benson, since last year June, when the students received their last payment, they have not been paid with most of the parents having to beg relatives for them to send small 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 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.
In the meantime, the federal government should quickly pay the outstanding allowances to restore the confidence of the scholars in their fatherland.
