The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the inclusion of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in the 2026 national budget does not signal a reversal of the Federal Government’s earlier decision to discontinue new foreign scholarship awards under the programme.
This clarification follows public concerns and widespread reports suggesting a contradiction between the discontinuation of the BEA scheme and its presence in the current budget.
In a statement, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, explained that the allocations referenced originated from the 2025 national budget, which had already been passed and signed into law before the government halted the processing of new BEA scholarship awards around April and May of that year.
He noted that due to the structure of Nigeria’s budgeting system, provisions in an already approved budget cannot be removed retroactively. As a result, the BEA component remained part of the 2025 budget framework.
The Minister further explained that the 2026 budget currently in operation is largely a roll-over of the 2025 fiscal plan, with about 30 percent retained and 70 percent projected into the new cycle. Consequently, all existing budget lines, including those relating to the BEA scholarship, were carried forward as part of this standard fiscal process.
He emphasised that the continued appearance of the BEA allocation in the budget document is purely procedural and does not indicate the resumption of new scholarship awards.
Looking ahead, the Ministry stated that any formal adjustment to the BEA budget line in the 2026 Appropriation Act can only be made through an approved virement. At that stage, necessary steps will be taken to realign or repurpose the allocation in line with current government policies.
The Ministry also reassured that Nigerian students currently benefiting from the BEA scholarship and studying abroad will continue to receive full government support, stressing that their academic progress and welfare remain a priority.
It urged the public to disregard misleading interpretations of budget figures that do not reflect the technical realities of budget formulation and roll-over practices.
The statement reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources, noting that all education policies will continue to align with national priorities.
Elijah Adeyemi
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