JUST IN: Nigerian Scholars In Russia, China, Others Face Hardship As Tinubu Government Delays Funds For Scholarships

The situation in Hungary has been particularly challenging due to strict immigration laws that make it difficult for students to engage in side jobs.

“Unfortunately, for us in Hungary, the immigration laws are very strict and do not allow students to take on side hustles. On top of that, our academic workload is overwhelming,” another affected student said.

Furthermore, Students also reported that since January 2025, they have not received any stipend payments.

Those who have been in the programme since 2023 say they have also experienced months of unpaid or underpaid stipends, leaving them uncertain about their financial future.

This was stated in a press statement issued on March 7, signed by the UNBEAS leadership and obtained by SaharaReporters.

By September, payments stopped entirely, leaving students stranded without financial support.

After over a year of financial distress, students finally received a stipend in September 2024.

However, rather than clearing outstanding arrears, the government slashed the stipend by 56%, reducing it from $500 to just $220. Many scholars were only informed of this adjustment at the time of payment.

“The justification given was that top civil servants in Nigeria do not earn as much under the current exchange rate—a comparison that ignores the fact that students live in foreign countries with rising living costs,” the union stated.

The consequences have been devastating. In Morocco, where government accommodation is unavailable, scholars have been evicted from their rented apartments.

Many have gone without food for days, while others have fallen ill but cannot afford medical care.

Similar hardships are being reported in Russia, Algeria, China, Venezuela, and Hungary, where students rely entirely on stipends for basic needs.

The financial uncertainty has led to increased depression, anxiety, and difficulty focusing on their education.
It was also noted that the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) has now informed students that the next stipend payment will not be available until mid-2025—between June and July — with no assurances that the arrears from 2023 or the full entitlements for 2024 will ever be paid.

UNBEAS in the statement  appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and relevant government agencies to urgently intervene.

The scholars are calling for the immediate payment of all outstanding stipends from September to December 2023, as well as the full supplementation of the shortfall from earlier that year.

They are also urging the government to ensure timely payments in 2025 to prevent further suffering and to restore the original $500 stipend, as the current $220 amount is grossly inadequate to cover basic living expenses.

Beyond government intervention, the students are calling on the media, civil society organisations, and concerned Nigerians to amplify their voices. Their message is clear: they do not wish to protest or beg, but they are pleading for survival. Without urgent action, more students risk losing their education, health, and even their lives to hunger and despair.