13/05/2026
"SUBSIDY IS GONE" BUT PROMISES AREN'T; How Nigeria Abondoned its BEA and National Award Scheme Beneficiaries
By Kabiru Datti Na Malanta
[email protected]
"When a government betrays the trust of it's citizens, it betrays its own legitimacy" - Edmund Burke
It is indeed ridiculous, disappointing, and sadly to read that the Federal Government recently approved only four billion Naira (N4bn) for the payment of outstanding allowances under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programme, yet thousands of students under the Federal Scholarship National Award Scheme remain abandoned after years of neglect.
Funny, N4bn for what specifically when huge cumulative backlogs still exist?
This approval did not happen overnight. It came after sustained pressure, consultations, media outrage, confrontation, and emotional appeals by parents and beneficiaries studying abroad who cried out over the government’s continued abandonment. Many of those students were stranded in foreign countries without allowances, battling humiliation and uncertainty. Alas, What a government do we have in Nigeria?
Although that is not commendable considering the cumulative backlogs, but then What about the thousands of Nigerian students under the Federal Scholarship National Award Scheme who have also been abandoned in silence?
For nearly two years now, beneficiaries under the National Award Scheme have not been paid. And yet, the government continues to release irrelevant presses on educational reforms, title conferment and so on.
Even more disappointing is the fact that last year the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education announcement over 50% increment in the National Award Scheme, which till date has not been implemented as no single beneficiary was paid. In the same year, the Federal Government went ahead to award new beneficiaries under the "Nigerian Scholarship Award". The Beneficiaries were jubilating, believing that perhaps merit and academic excellence still had value in this country. Alas, till date, none of those beneficiaries has received a penny. Not one!.
Now, 2026 is here; which means that there are outstanding backlogs for 2024, 2025, and now 2026. Remember also, throughout 2025, no student was awarded despite the application proccess, and no explanation was given!
Was the National Award Scheme allocation omitted from the budget or is education simply no longer considered a priority by this administration?
The most painful aspect of this crisis is not even the delay itself but the attitude of the authorities responsible for handling the matter. The silence. The indifference. The absence of urgency.
What exactly is the message being sent to students?
That promises made by government should never be trusted?
That Nigerian students are only remembered during campaigns and forgotten immediately after elections?
Well, as another electoral season gradually approaches, we, the students and youths are watching carefully. Governments must understand that we are no longer silent observers. We see everything. We remember every promise. We remember every negligence!!!
Let's meet in Episode 2
Cc
Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria
Federal Scholarship Board, Nigeria
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad
Mr. Omoyele Sowore
PBAT Media Centre
PBAT Media Centre Hausa
National Orientation Agency.
