News
FG foreign scholarship beneficiaries lament unpaid eight-month stipends
Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries, on the Federal Government’s scholarship have lamented their unpaid stipends for eight months running.
The students are studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship.
The BEA scholarship is for the purpose of education exchange between Nigeria and the partnering countries.
The scholarship scheme is being supervised by the Federal Scholarship Board under the Federal Ministry of Education.
In a statement on Wednesday, the President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the Federal Government-controlled Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship, Ayuba Anas, said the scholars had not been paid for close to eight months.
Anas said, “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.
“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.”
According to Anas, scholars in Russia “are grappling with the harsh reality of an increased cost of living, exacerbated by the prolonged delay in stipend disbursement.”
“Forced to navigate financial hardships amidst the pressures of academic stress, many students have been pushed to the breaking point which is diverting their focus from their primary goal of academic excellence,” he said.
The students said while they were aware of the current economic realities back home in Nigeria, the terms of the education exchange programme did not allow them to take up any job to aid themselves.
They implored the Federal Government to recognise their plight and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering.
“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.”
No official at the Federal Ministry of Education replied to inquiries by our correspondent on the matter at the time of filing this report.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola, son of late Moshood Abiola, as senior special assistant to the president on linguistics and foreign matters.
Segun Imohiosen, director of information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in a statement, said the appointment takes effect from November 14, 2024.
“This is in line with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended”
Until his appointment, Jami’u has served as the special assistant to the president on special duties in the Office of the Vice President.
The statement said President Tinubu tasked the appointee to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has halted the free bus service system in the state.
The governor had earlier on Wednesday approved the free bus services for residents of the state through the Edo City Transport Service.
In a press statement released by Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the initiative was described as part of the administration’s effort to entrench its policy direction.
The free bus service, according to the governor, was to cover the Benin metropolis and the three senatorial districts of the state (intra- and intercity routes) and was intended as a commitment to enhancing the welfare of Edo residents.
However, in a subsequent statement on Wednesday night, Itua said the earlier announcement regarding the approval of the free bus services should be disregarded.
The statement read: “The earlier statement announcing the approval of free bus services by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, should be disregarded.
“The governor is being briefed on issues surrounding the operation of the state-owned Edo City Transport Service, operators of the free bus services.
“For now, the free bus services have been placed on hold. A new decision by the governor will be communicated to the general public.”
A medical doctor, Donatus Nwasor, has been abducted by gunmen from his private clinic in Utagba-Uno, the Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Nwasor was abducted around 8.15 pm on Tuesday.
A source from the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that an auxiliary nurse at the clinic raised the alarm after witnessing the abduction.
The source said, “As her boss entered his car after closing around 8 pm and on the ignition, suddenly, a call came.
“While the car was running, he stepped out to answer a phone call. Suddenly, about five men came out of a nearby bush and hit him down, dragged him into his car and drove away.
“One of the kidnappers’ rubber sandals fell off at the clinic premises, and they drove towards the Ugiliamai / Iselegu area.”
Further investigations by the community revealed that the doctor’s car was later found abandoned near Iselegu Junction along the expressway heading to Asaba.
“A group of Anti-Cult personnel in Utagba-uno led by Mr Ugobueze got there around 9.10pm and found a car with all the doors opened without anyone inside. It was confirmed that it was Dr Nwasor’s car,” the source added.
Efforts to trace the abductors led to the discovery of a walkway sign in the bush near Obi-Ukpo in Onicha-Ukwuani.
The source disclosed that Nwasor’s family and concerned individuals have been informed, and the matter has been reported to the Nigeria Police Force, Kwale Division.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the command, Bright Edafe, said he had not received the information as of the time of filling this report.
Tinubu appoints Abiola’s son, Jami’u, as SSA on linguistics, foreign matters
Confusion As Okpebholo Suspends Free Bus Services Earlier Approved For Edo Residents
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