The Federal Government has clarified that the inclusion of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in the 2026 national budget does not indicate a reversal of its earlier decision to suspend new awards under the scheme.
The clarification was made in a statement issued on Thursday by the Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that the BEA allocation in the 2026 budget was carried over from the 2025 fiscal framework, which had already been approved before the suspension of the programme.
“Due to budgetary procedures, such provisions cannot be removed retroactively,” he stated.
The BEA scholarship programme was officially discontinued in 2025 after the government described it as financially unsustainable and inefficient.
Mr Alausa had earlier raised concerns about poor oversight and lack of performance monitoring, noting that the government funded students abroad without adequate tracking of academic outcomes.
Budget inclusion explained
According to the ministry, the 2026 budget largely reflects a roll-over of the previous fiscal year, meaning existing budget lines, including the BEA scholarship were retained as part of standard budgeting practice.
Mr Alausa emphasised that the presence of the allocation is purely procedural and should not be interpreted as a policy shift.
“The presence of the allocation is purely procedural and does not signal the resumption of new scholarship awards,” he said.
The ministry added that any changes to the BEA funding line would require a formal virement process in line with government financial regulations.
Support for current beneficiaries
Despite the suspension of new awards, the Federal Government assured that all current beneficiaries of the BEA programme studying abroad would continue to receive full financial support.
The ministry urged the public to disregard misleading interpretations surrounding the budget provision and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and prudent resource management.
The government announced plans to redirect resources toward domestic scholarship schemes aimed at benefiting a larger number of Nigerian students.
Background
The BEA scheme, established through bilateral agreements with countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia, enabled Nigerian students to study abroad on government sponsorship.
However, the programme faced criticism following reports of delayed funding and stranded scholars overseas, prompting calls for reform and eventual suspension.
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