Years-long delays in federal scholarship payments are forcing students into debt and uncertainty, steadily eroding trust in Nigeria’s education system.

Federal scholarship recipients are growing increasingly frustrated after years of delays in the disbursement of funds, despite completing required documentation through their institutions.

At an engagement with awardee representatives in April, students called on the government to address the mounting hardship caused by the delays.

“Several attempts have been made to engage relevant authorities,” said Salihu Iliya, a representative from the North Central region. “We’ve reached out to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General, and even the National Assembly. None of these efforts have produced concrete action or a credible timeline.”

The delays now span multiple cohorts. According to a joint statement by awardee leaders, beneficiaries from 2024, 2025, and 2026 have yet to receive payments, while arrears from as far back as 2022 remain unsettled.

Under the Federal Government scholarship scheme, students must maintain a minimum CGPA of 4.0 after their first year to remain eligible for funding through graduation. The Federal Scholarship Board is tasked with issuing awards and overseeing disbursement.

In practice, however, students say the system has been defined by delays.

Kabiru Datti Na Malanta, a final-year Civil Engineering student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, described the scholarship as a crucial financial buffer—at least in theory.

“We were awarded ₦250,000 per session, later increased to ₦300,000 and then ₦450,000,” he said. “But despite these increases, no payments have been made.”
To cope, he has resorted to borrowing money, hoping to repay it if and when the funds arrive.

For Umar Faruk Sada, a student at the Federal University of Technology Minna, the impact has been immediate and personal.

“The delays make it difficult to afford basic needs—feeding, accommodation, academic materials,” he said. “It also affects my ability to focus on my studies.”
After two years of waiting, he admits his hope is fading.

Students argue that the issue goes beyond individual hardship, striking at the credibility of government-backed education programs.

“If scholarships are meant to support citizens, what is their value if funds are never released?” asked Nafiza Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University.

Shaibu Rufai Omale of Usmanu Danfodiyo University framed the delays as a contradiction of national development goals. “Policies designed to strengthen education must be implemented effectively,” he said. “Otherwise, students are left behind.”

Others see the problem as symptomatic of deeper structural issues. “Delayed funding is only one part of a broader failure,” said Summaiyyah Muhammad. “Poor learning environments and lack of support systems compound the problem.”

The consequences extend beyond undergraduates. A postgraduate student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University said the lack of funding has stalled his thesis.

“This has affected morale,” he said. “Many students are struggling to sponsor themselves.”

Despite repeated efforts to engage authorities, no meaningful progress has been made.

As of press time, the Federal Scholarship Board had not responded to inquiries.

With frustration mounting, students continue to call for urgent intervention—warning that without action, confidence in the system may erode further.

Reporter’s note: Some names have been changed to protect identities.