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 reinstatement of the programme for new beneficiaries.
In a statement issued on April 30, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the budgetary provision is a carryover from the 2025 fiscal framework, which had been approved before the government suspended new BEA scholarship awards between April and May 2025.
“The provision originates from the 2025 budget, which had already been approved before the suspension of new BEA scholarships… such provisions cannot be removed retroactively,” the minister said.
He explained that the 2026 budget largely retains elements of the previous year’s framework, noting that the inclusion of the BEA line is a standard roll-over practice rather than a policy shift.
“The presence of the allocation is purely procedural and does not signal the resumption of new scholarship awards,” Alausa added.
The ministry also noted that any changes to the BEA allocation would require a formal virement process to align with current government policy.
Reassuring stakeholders, the ministry confirmed that existing beneficiaries studying abroad will continue to receive full government support.
“All current BEA beneficiaries studying abroad will continue to receive full government support,” the statement said.
The ministry urged the public to disregard what it described as misleading interpretations of the budget provision, reiterating its commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.