The Federal Government has attributed the delayed payment of stipends to Nigerian scholars studying in Morocco to fiscal constraints, dismissing claims that beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme have been abandoned.
The clarification follows protests held in November 2025 by parents and beneficiaries of the BEA scholarship, who demanded the immediate settlement of outstanding allowances owed to Nigerian students studying abroad. During the protest, demonstrators highlighted the severe hardship allegedly faced by the students, including hunger, homelessness, and psychological distress resulting from the prolonged non-payment and reduction of stipends.
The issue also gained wider public attention after social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, raised concerns about the welfare of the scholars. He cited reports of difficulties in paying tuition fees and meeting basic living expenses due to unpaid monthly allowances.
Responding to the allegations, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, insisted that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been neglected or abandoned. He explained that all beneficiaries who were duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship programme before 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year, in accordance with the government’s obligations.
“All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme prior to 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year,” the minister stated. “Any temporary delays in outstanding payments are attributable to fiscal constraints and are currently being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.”
The explanation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Boriowo Folasade.
The minister also dismissed reports suggesting that new bilateral scholarship awards were granted in October 2025 or at any time thereafter, describing such claims as false and misleading.
“No new bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or subsequently,” the statement said. “Documents being circulated to suggest otherwise are fake, unauthenticated, and represent a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and discredit government policy.”
According to Alausa, the Federal Government’s decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive policy review. The review, he said, established that Nigeria now has sufficient institutional capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to deliver many of the programmes previously pursued overseas.
“Past practices that sponsored overseas training for courses already well established in Nigeria placed avoidable financial burdens on the nation,” the minister explained. “As a result, only scholarships that are fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries.”
Despite the policy shift, Alausa stressed that the government remains fully committed to students who were already enrolled under the previous arrangements and will continue to support them until the completion of their academic programmes.
He further revealed that students who may wish to discontinue their studies abroad have been given an alternative pathway. Such students can formally notify the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards and opt to return to Nigeria, where they will be seamlessly reintegrated into suitable tertiary institutions of their choice.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Federal Government, he added, will also cover the return travel costs of affected students.
“The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that no student is left stranded,” the statement noted. “Those who choose to return will be properly accommodated within Nigeria’s higher education system without disruption to their academic progress.”
Alausa also emphasized that the current administration is determined to reform the scholarship system by eliminating inefficiencies, abuses, and unsustainable practices. He said the ongoing reforms are aimed at improving transparency, strengthening accountability, and ensuring prudent management of public resources.
“The goal is to promote national capacity development while safeguarding the integrity of the education sector,” the minister stated.
Reiterating the government’s position, Alausa strongly rejected what he described as misinformation, blackmail, and attempts to undermine education policies designed to strengthen Nigeria’s long-term educational framework. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students, both at home and abroad, and assured stakeholders that efforts are ongoing to resolve outstanding payment issues.
