Abuja, April 30, 2026 — The Federal Ministry of Education has addressed public concerns regarding the inclusion of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in the 2026 national budget, stating clearly that it does not signal a return of the programme for new beneficiaries.
According to the Ministry, the appearance of the BEA scholarship in the 2026 budget is a routine carryover from the 2025 fiscal framework, which had been approved prior to the government’s decision to suspend new awards under the scheme in April–May 2025.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that due to standard budgetary procedures, previously approved allocations cannot be retrospectively removed. As a result, certain budget lines including that of the BEA scholarship were retained in the 2026 appropriation as part of a roll-over structure.
He emphasized that this inclusion is strictly procedural and should not be misinterpreted as a reinstatement of the scholarship programme for new applicants.
The Ministry further clarified that any modification to the BEA allocation would require an official virement process to reflect current policy directions.
Despite the suspension of new awards, the government reaffirmed its commitment to existing beneficiaries. All students currently enrolled under the BEA scholarship scheme abroad will continue to receive full financial support until the completion of their studies.
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The Ministry urged the public and stakeholders to ignore inaccurate reports suggesting a policy reversal, reiterating its dedication to transparency, fiscal discipline, and responsible management of public resources.
