The House of Representatives on Wednesday began an investigation into allegations that scholarship stipends have not been paid to Nigerian students studying both within and outside the country. The situation has reportedly left many of them facing serious hardship and has affected their academic performance.
Declaring the investigative hearing organised by the House Committee on Students Loans, Scholarships and Higher Education Financing open, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by Hon. David Agada, expressed concern over the alleged delays. He warned that the non-payment of stipends could create major setbacks for students. He said, “Any delay in payment affects education and motivation of the students negatively.”
Speaker Tajudeen noted that the 10th Assembly remains committed to improving administrative efficiency in the payment process. He said the findings from the committee would guide future operations of the scholarship scheme.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, said the allegations, if verified, would amount to bureaucratic failures and a breach of national trust. He described the situation as a direct threat to the academic, psychological, and physical well-being of Nigerian students abroad. According to him, “A nation that sends students abroad to study should be committed to fund them, guide them and protect their dignity as a way of investing in their future.”
Hon. Ehindero condemned reports of stranded Nigerian scholars overseas and said the committee would investigate the causes of the delays and identify any administrative lapses. He added that the committee would also review the status of funds released for scholarship purposes and determine whether due process, fairness, and accountability were followed. He reaffirmed the committee’s determination to ensure that such failures do not happen again.
During the hearing, parents of the affected students shared their concerns about the prolonged delay, saying it has placed a heavy financial burden on their families. The parents, under the Forum of Parents and Guardians of FGN Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship Recipients, Abuja, Nigeria, alleged that the terms of the scholarship agreement had been violated.
Presenting the group’s submission, the Forum’s Chairman, Prince Ponfa Wuyep, said, “The scholarship programme had progressed steadily in the various countries while many Nigerian ex-scholars have significantly benefited and are making their contributions to the growth and development of our nation.” He added that while host countries have largely kept to the agreement under the BEA, Nigeria has struggled to make regular stipend payments. According to him, “However, in the last three (3) years or thereabout, things have taken a new turn not for the good of the scholars. It is essential at this stage to refer this Honourable Committee to the contractual agreement in the award letter to the benefiting scholars.”
According to the parents, the 2018 award letter entitled scholars to a supplementary allowance of 500 dollars per month and 600 dollars per annum for feeding, local transportation, and books or equipment. Beneficiaries were also to receive 250 dollars annually for warm clothing and 200 dollars for health insurance. The scheme additionally provided a 60,000 dollar take-off grant before departure, a one-way ticket to the country of study, and a return ticket at the end of the programme to be collected from the Nigerian Mission.
They said another scholar’s letter dated September 2022 offered similar provisions. It stated that beneficiaries were entitled to 500 dollars monthly and 6,000 dollars annually as supplementation allowances, 250 dollars per year for warm clothing, 200 dollars for health insurance, a 60,000 dollar take-off grant before departure, and a one-way and return ticket obtainable from the Nigerian Mission abroad.
The parents and guardians explained that the programme has faced major challenges in the last three years, mainly due to fluctuations between the Naira and the Dollar, which led to shortfalls in payments for 2023 and 2024. They said, “The scholars have not received any stipend payment for the entire fiscal year 2025 to date. This delay in payment has severely compromised the scholars’ ability to meet basic living costs, jeopardising their health, safety, and academic performance.”
They further noted that apart from the current year’s non-payment, scholars are still being owed shortfalls from stipends paid in 2023 and 2024. They said these outstanding amounts have created substantial debt and prolonged financial distress for the students.
