The director, Fatima Ahmad,
said there was an outstanding scholarship allowance to the tune of N799.8m in
2015 and 2016, out of which Ñ444.2m has been paid, leaving a balance of
Ñ355.6m.
The director in charge of
scholarships at the Federal Scholarship Board has said N2.4bn is being owed
Nigerian students who are studying overseas due to inadequate or lack of
budgetary provisions.
Ahmad disclosed this at a
special meeting held between the Senate President Bukola Saraki and
representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for the
welfare of Nigerian students on scholarships abroad.
The students are now
stranded due to non-payment of their living allowances and tuition by relevant
government agencies.
The Senate in plenary had
mandated Saraki to intervene and know why Nigerian students on scholarships in
foreign countries are yet to be paid their scholarship funds.
Saraki at the meeting on
Wednesday, attended by the Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chairman Senate
Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFUND and other senators, directed the
Federal Scholarship Board to urgently present a comprehensive report of all
Nigerian students on scholarship abroad and their outstanding entitlements to the
relevant committees of the Senate to enable the Senate make appropriations for
their settlement.
Saraki directed the FSB to
prepare a comprehensive report on the outstanding allowances and tuition and
submit to the education committees to enable the Senate make provision for its
settlement in the budget.
He enjoined the FSB to
imbibe the spirit of transparency and Federal Character in the award of all
federal scholarships.
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