‘There’s hunger’ — students on FG scholarships abroad lament ‘unpaid stipends’

The union of Nigerian students, under the aegis of the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) scholarship in foreign countries, has appealed to the federal government to address the issue of unpaid stipends.

Ayuba Yushau, spokesperson of the union, in a statement on Wednesday, said students have endured financial difficulty for six months over unpaid stipends.

The union urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter.

“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,” Yushau said.

“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.

“Due to the economic reality of the nation, we receive insufficient or no additional support from our parents.

“Moreover, prohibitions on employment in many of our host BEA countries restrict our ability to supplement our incomes.

“We implore the Nigerian government to recognize the plight of its scholars abroad and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering.

“As the nation grapples with economic hardships, it is imperative to prioritize the welfare of our students who represent the future of our country.

“We earnestly plead with our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a father figure and a visionary in education, to intervene in this pressing matter.

“His intervention in ensuring the prompt disbursement of our stipends will not only alleviate our current hardships but also allow us, his scholars, to focus wholeheartedly on our studies.

“We are confident that under President Tinubu’s compassionate and forward-thinking leadership, swift action will be taken to resolve this issue, enabling us to continue our academic pursuits without the burden of financial strain.”