The representatives moved to investigate the Federal Scholarship Board over alleged mismanagement, and non-payment of stipends to students
The House of Representatives has mandated a joint investigation into the alleged mismanagement, breach of agreements, and non-payment of stipends to Nigerian students on government-sponsored scholarships abroad from 2015 to date.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Investigate the Federal Scholarship Board’s Alleged Abuse of Process, Breach of Terms of Engagement, and Failure to Pay Scholarship Stipends to Nigerian Students in Diaspora,” sponsored by Rep. Chike Okafor (APC, Imo), during Wednesday’s plenary.
Moving the motion, Rep. Okafor expressed concern that the Federal Scholarship Board, which operates under the Federal Ministry of Education, has allegedly failed in its statutory responsibility to ensure the welfare of Nigerian scholars in foreign institutions.
“The Federal Scholarship Board is responsible for administering scholarships to Nigerian students at home and abroad, and implementing the terms and agreements of these awards is solely their lawful responsibility for the welfare of our students in the diaspora,” Okafor stated.
He noted that there have been growing complaints from beneficiaries of bilateral education agreements (BEA) about what he described as “odious mistreatment and starvation of funds” that have left many students stranded in foreign countries.
“We are worried about the outcry by the Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement scholars over alleged mistreatment and starvation of funds, which has led students into unholy survival struggles, endangering their lives and leaving many vulnerable,” he lamented.
The lawmaker warned that the neglect of Nigerian scholars abroad reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to education and human capital development.
“If the future leaders of Nigeria are abandoned in foreign lands due to administrative inefficiencies or corruption, it is a reflection of poor commitment to education and youth development,” he added. “As representatives of the people, we have a social contract to protect Nigerian scholars on scholarships abroad from abuse and humiliation.”
Okafor further decried reports of delays, non-payment, and unexplained deductions from stipends meant for Nigerian students in foreign universities, saying such lapses have caused hardship and tarnished the country’s international reputation.
“Nigerian scholars abroad face delays, non-payment, and unexplained deductions that have caused financial distress and damaged our country’s image,” he said. “This undermines the objectives of the scholarship programme, which is to foster human capital development.”
Adopting the motion, the House resolved to direct its Committees on Diaspora, University Education, Foreign Affairs, and Anti-Corruption to “thoroughly investigate the operations of the Federal Scholarship Board on the alleged mismanagement of scholarship funds and non-payment of stipends from 2015 to date.”
The committees are to recommend measures to ensure accountability, restore confidence in Nigeria’s scholarship administration, and provide lasting solutions to the challenges faced by Nigerian students studying abroad under government sponsorship.
