CRISIS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION: Stranded Students Cry Out Over Agonizing Delay in Federal Government Scholarship Disbursements

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Thousands of exceptional students across Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education have been plunged into severe financial distress following the prolonged failure of the Federal Government to disburse the 2024/2025 academic scholarships.

The affected scholars, who are beneficiaries of the prestigious Education Bursary Award (EBA) and the Nigerian Scholarship Award (NSA), have raised an urgent alarm over what they describe as a “silent disbursement” process that has left them abandoned despite fulfilling all official requirements.

Broken Promises and Academic Jeopardy

According to official documents obtained by ABT NEWS, the scholarship awards were formally granted by the Federal Ministry of Education, with official offer letters signed by the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) dated as far back as October 31, 2024.

Following the receipt of these letters, the students were subjected to multiple rounds of rigorous verification exercises across various institutional centers. Sources reveal that after successfully passing these screenings, the Board explicitly instructed the beneficiaries to await immediate payment. Months later, no funds have been released, and the authorities have maintained a worrying silence.

The Miserable Plight of the Beneficiaries

The consequences of this administrative delay are proving catastrophic for the students, many of whom depend entirely on these approved funds to survive the harsh economic climate.

Reports filtering in from various campuses paint a grim picture of the realities these students currently face:

• Tuition Defaults and Evictions: A significant number of beneficiaries are currently facing expulsion or are being barred from writing their semester examinations due to unpaid tuition fees. Out-of-station students are also facing imminent eviction from their accommodations as rent deadlines pass unmet.
• Academic Cripplement: Without the promised bursaries, students have been unable to purchase mandatory textbooks, research materials, or fund required laboratory and field projects, severely crippling their academic performance.
• Welfare and Starvation: The delay has degenerated into a humanitarian issue on campuses, with many law-abiding scholars struggling to afford basic meals and daily transport to lectures.

“These funds are not a favor; they are part of approved scholarship entitlements that we legally earned and desperately depend on for our general welfare and academic continuity,” a representative of the 2024/2025 FSB Beneficiaries stated in a joint distress call.

“The prolonged delay has created unprecedented hardship. Despite following due process and making continuous formal inquiries, there has been no clear timeline for payment, nor has there been any transparent communication from the Federal Scholarship Board.”

An Urgent Appeal for Intervention

The affected students, maintaining their stance as law-abiding citizens, have avoided disruptive protests, choosing instead to appeal directly to the sensibilities of the Federal Ministry of Education and higher regulatory authorities.

They are urgently calling on the Minister of Education and the leadership of the Federal Scholarship Board to immediately break their silence, provide a transparent update on the status of the funds, and expedite the immediate disbursement of the bursaries to the rightful beneficiaries.

As the academic calendar progresses rapidly, the futures of these bright minds hang precariously in the balance. ABT NEWS will continue to monitor this developing story and track the government’s response to this pressing national issue.

Are you an affected student? Share your experience with us in the comments below or contact the ABT NEWS newsroom via email: info@abtnews.net