The Federal government disclosed it has released N9.5 billion for the payment of scholarships and allowances owed Nigerian students both home and abroad up to December 2018. This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who was represented by Asta Ndajiwo, Director Federal Scholarship Board, during a press conference in Abuja over the weekend. (Premium Times)
Mr, Adamu revealed that the government of President Buhari had already disbursed over N800 million in 2018 for the payment of scholarship stipends to students both home and abroad.
According to him, considering the current release, the Buhari Administration will be spending a total N10 billion for payment of scholarship to Nigerian students in 2018. “we are determined to do more” the minister added.
The Minister further stated,” Let me use this opportunity to direct the scholarship board to immediately undertake all due processes required to clear the backlog of scholarship allowances owed Nigerian students both home and abroad.
”In the third sitting of our weekend press briefing, I informed you that the government of President Buhari has already disbursed over N800 million in payment of scholarship stipends.
Mallam Adamu revealed the board had inherited scholarship liabilities from the scheme as operated by the National University Commission (NUC).
He disclosed that such liabilities should be thoroughly verified before payment, meanwhile, the board must ascertain that admissions of such scholars were still valid and that the scholars were still pursuing their various programmes.
He noted that the number of scholarship applicants had risen to 30,000 as against the usual 12,000 applicants for the four scholarship schemes.
At the end, the minister appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and that of their Polytechnic counterpart to call off their prolonged strike action in the interest of parent and students.