Thousands of Nigerian students facing eviction, registration deadlines, and financial hardship have found a unified voice as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) issued a stern demand to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, to immediately clear all unpaid Federal Government Scholarship stipends accumulated since 2024.
​The appeal, finalized during an emergency press brief at the NANS Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, highlights growing frustration over systemic delays within the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB).
​According to student representatives, beneficiaries of the National Award Scholarship and the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) overseas programs have not received their designated allowances for over two years. The resulting backlog has left scholars across state, federal, and foreign institutions struggling to meet basic living costs.
​”Our students are being pushed to the brink,” stated Comrade Obidah David, NANS National Public Relations Officer. “Many are unable to write ongoing semester examinations because school portals remain locked due to unpaid fees. Others are facing imminent eviction from campus hostels and private accommodations.”
​The association noted that while living costs have surged, the very safety net created to cushion underprivileged high-achievers has remained inaccessible due to bureaucratic bottlenecks between the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
​The student leadership called directly on Dr. Alausa to leverage his executive authority to bypass administrative delays and ensure an immediate tranche release before the end of the current academic quarter.
​NANS outlined key actions required from the Ministry which includes Immediate Verification and Direct Disbursement. They made request for an Inter-Agency Coordination to establish a joint committee involving NANS leadership to monitor the payout process.
​While reiterating its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue, NANS warned that continued inaction could trigger peaceful nationwide demonstrations across major state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory.
​”We believe in the leadership of Dr. Alausa, but our patience is exhausted,” David added. “Education is a right, and government promises to exceptional students must be honored.”
As of local press time on Tuesday, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education have not released a formal timetable for the outstanding disbursements.
