Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement have appealed to the federal government to address the pressing issue of unpaid stipends which has led to “severe hardship.”

The scholars, who are studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and a few other countries, appealed to their umbrella body, the coalition of all the Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Student Association.

According to the association, for the past six to eight months, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends.

The students appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene to ensure the payment of their stipends.

In a statement on Wednesday, March 6, in Abuja, a spokesman of the coalition, Ayuba Yushau the students said: “In addition, from the last payments we received (March-August), there was a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment. Moreover, some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023.

“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. Regrettably, some students have faced eviction as they struggled to meet rent payments, while others have tragically fallen ill due to hunger, requiring urgent medical attention. These hardships persist amidst the ongoing delay in stipend disbursement.

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