Students Decry Delayed Scholarship Payments, Warn of Eroding Trust in Education

Federal scholarship awardees have raised concerns over prolonged delays in the disbursement of funds, years after submitting their documents through their institutions to the Federal Scholarship Board.

At an engagement with awardees’ leaders in April, students called on the government to address the hardship caused by the delays.

“Several attempts have been made to engage relevant authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the National Assembly. Regrettably, these efforts have not yielded any concrete action or a credible timeline for payment,” said Salihu Iliya, a representative of awardees in the North Central region.

Speaking on the broader implications, he added that while the government recognises education as a right, commitments to students must be honoured without delay.

In a joint statement issued by awardees’ leaders nationwide, beneficiaries disclosed that despite repeated engagements with relevant authorities, their concerns remain unresolved.

They noted that funds have yet to be disbursed to awardees from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 cohorts, while arrears owed to some beneficiaries between 2022 and 2024 also remain unpaid.

Background

Under the Federal Government scholarship scheme, students in tertiary institutions are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 after their first year to remain eligible for continued funding until graduation.

The Federal Scholarship Board is responsible for issuing award letters and overseeing disbursement. However, students say the process has been marred by persistent delays.

Students Lament Hardship

Kabiru Datti Na Malanta, a beneficiary awarded in 2022 and a final-year Civil Engineering student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, said he had initially viewed the scholarship as a means to ease financial pressure.

“Months after writing the qualifying exam in October 2022, successful candidates were invited for physical verification. We were awarded ₦250,000 per session, meant to support us until graduation,” he said.

According to him, although the award was later increased, first to ₦300,000 and then to ₦450,000 per session, payments have yet to be made. He added that he has had to borrow money to meet basic needs, with plans to repay once the funds are released.

Similarly, Umar Faruk Sada, a 300-level student at Federal University of Technology Minna, said the delays have significantly affected his daily life.

“As a student with limited resources, the delayed disbursement makes it difficult to afford basic needs such as feeding, accommodation, and academic materials. It also affects my ability to focus on my studies,” he said, noting that he has begun to lose hope after waiting for two years without a response.

Broader Implications

Students say the delays are undermining trust in government-backed education programmes.

Nafiza Abubakar, a student at Ahmadu Bello University, described the situation as discouraging and potentially harmful to national development.

“If scholarship programmes are designed to support citizens, what is the point when funds are not released?” she asked.

Shaibu Rufai Omale of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto noted that the delays contradict broader development goals, including efforts to strengthen education systems and empower young people.

“Policies aimed at improving education must be effectively implemented to ensure no student is left behind due to financial constraints,” he said.

Also speaking, Sumayyah Muhammad, a student of the same institution, said the issue reflects wider systemic challenges.

“Delayed funds are just one part of the problem. Combined with poor learning environments, they highlight deeper gaps that affect students’ ability to learn effectively,” she said.

Academic Impact

The impact of the delays extends beyond undergraduates. A postgraduate student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who requested anonymity, said the lack of funding has stalled his academic progress.

“This delay has affected the morale of students, especially those struggling to sponsor themselves,” he said, adding that his thesis has been put on hold due to financial constraints.

He noted that repeated efforts to engage relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant-General, have not produced results.

Ministry Yet to Respond

As of press time, efforts to obtain official responses were unsuccessful, as the Federal Scholarship Board had not responded to emails sent regarding the issue.

With frustration growing among beneficiaries, students continue to call for urgent intervention to ensure that commitments to education are fulfilled and confidence in the system is restored.