BEA Scholars Receive Part Payment of 2025 Stipends, Urge FG to Clear Outstanding Backlogs

The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has acknowledged the receipt of part payment of their 2025 stipends by the Federal Government, while appealing for the immediate release of the remaining payments and other outstanding arrears.

In a statement signed by Umar Gambo Adamu, PhD, Public Relations Officer of UNBEAS, on behalf of all BEA Chapter Presidents, UNBEAS expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Ministers of Education and Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), the Union of Parents of BEA Scholars and other stakeholders involved in the payment process.

The union, however, said the payment had only provided temporary relief, noting that significant arrears remained outstanding.

According to UNBEAS, only 46 per cent of the amount required for the 2025 academic year was budgeted, while only half of the budgeted amount was eventually paid. The union said this translated to approximately 23 per cent of the total 2025 stipends owed to scholars.

The scholars expressed concern that the budget cycles for 2024 and 2025 could close after September 30, 2026, potentially complicating efforts to settle the outstanding obligations.

“While much still needs to be done, this payment has brought some relief to the scholars,” the union said, adding that it was relying on assurances from the Minister of Education that the remaining 2025 payment would be made within two weeks.

UNBEAS said scholars were still owed four months of stipends from 2023, alongside a separate shortfall of more than $1,000.

It added that only about 46 per cent of the total 2024 stipends had been paid, while no payment had been received for the 2026 academic year as of the time the statement was issued.

The union therefore appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Federal Scholarship Board and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene and fast-track the payment of all outstanding stipends and accumulated backlogs.

UNBEAS said the timely settlement of the arrears would provide much-needed relief to Nigerian scholars studying under the Bilateral Education Agreement programme and enable them to continue their studies without financial difficulties.