The Federal Government has clarified that the inclusion of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in the 2026 national budget does not indicate a reversal of its earlier decision to discontinue new awards under the scheme.
The Federal Ministry of Education issued the clarification following public concerns and online reports suggesting a contradiction between the programme’s discontinuation and its presence in the current budget.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, explained that the allocation for the BEA scholarship originated from the 2025 national budget, which had already been approved and signed into law before the government halted the processing of new awards around April and May 2025.
According to the minister, in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, on Thursday night, Nigeria’s budgeting framework does not allow for the retroactive removal of provisions from an already approved budget. As a result, the BEA component remained part of the 2025 fiscal structure.
He further noted that the 2026 budget is largely a roll-over of the previous year’s budget, with about 30 percent retained and 70 percent projected into the new fiscal cycle. This process, he said, accounts for the continued appearance of the BEA allocation in the current budget.
“The presence of the BEA scholarship in the 2026 budget is purely procedural and should not be interpreted as a reinstatement of the programme,” the minister stated.
The ministry added that any changes to the BEA allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act would require an approved virement. It noted that such steps would be taken at the appropriate time to realign the funds with current government priorities.
Meanwhile, the government assured that all existing beneficiaries of the BEA scholarship studying abroad will continue to receive full support in line with existing commitments.
The ministry urged the public to disregard misleading interpretations of budget figures, emphasizing that they often do not reflect the technical realities of budget formulation and roll-over practices.
It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources, noting that education policies will continue to align with national priorities and the welfare of students.