The Federal Government has reaffirmed that the suspension of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship is still in effect, stating clearly that no new foreign scholarship awards will be granted under the scheme.
This clarification was made by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. She explained that the presence of the BEA Scholarship in the 2026 national budget does not signal a reversal of the government’s earlier decision to halt new awards.
According to her, the statement became necessary following public concerns and widespread online reports suggesting a contradiction between the suspension of the scheme and its inclusion in the current budget.
Providing further insight, the Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, noted that the budgetary allocations in question originated from the 2025 national budget, which had already been approved and signed into law before the government stopped processing new BEA scholarship applications around April and May of that year.
He explained that Nigeria’s budgeting system does not allow for the removal of items from an already approved budget, which is why the BEA component remains in the 2025 framework.
Alausa also pointed out that the 2026 budget is largely a continuation of the 2025 fiscal plan, with about 30 percent carried over and 70 percent projected into the current year. As a result, all existing budget lines, including the BEA scholarship allocation, were retained as part of the standard roll-over process.
He stressed that the continued appearance of the BEA allocation in the budget is purely procedural and should not be interpreted as a return of the scholarship scheme.
Looking ahead, the Ministry stated that any formal changes to the BEA allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act can only be made through an approved virement, at which point the funds may be adjusted or redirected in line with current government priorities.
The Ministry also reassured Nigerians that students currently benefiting from the BEA scholarship and studying abroad will continue to receive full government support, emphasizing that their welfare and academic progress remain a top priority.
Finally, the Ministry urged the public to ignore misleading interpretations of budget figures that do not reflect the technical realities of budget planning and roll-over practices. It reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public funds, assuring that all education policies will continue to align with national interests and the needs of students.
