Parents of Nigerian students studying abroad on government scholarships on Monday blocked the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the non-payment of long-overdue allowances owed to their children.
The aggrieved parents, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, gathered at the main gate of the ministry to demand immediate release of the funds. They said their children, enrolled in various Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programmes and other federal scholarship schemes, have been left stranded due to the government’s failure to pay stipends for 16 months, in addition to an eight-month shortfall yet to be cleared.
A photo shared by our correspondent showed the protesters occupying the ministry’s entrance as security operatives monitored the situation.
The parents lamented that their children are facing severe hardship abroad, with many unable to afford basic needs, accommodation, feeding, and academic materials.
They vowed to continue the protest until the Federal Government addresses the backlog and ensures regular payment of the students’ entitlements.
