TDF Commends Scrapping Of Bilateral Education Agreement, Cites ‘Huge Economic Waste’

The Democratic Front (TDF) has praised the federal government’s decision to eliminate the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme, describing it as a well-thought-out measure to reduce the strain on the country’s resources.

In a statement issued today and signed by Chairman Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Chief Wale Adedayo, the TDF expressed surprise that scholarships were being awarded for courses that are widely available and more cost-effectively taught in Nigeria.

“In our considered opinion, this laudable action is long overdue, given the inherent lack of merit and enormous economic waste that characterises the BEA scholarship program,” the statement read.

The TDF claimed that, despite consuming a sizable portion of the annual education budget, the BEA program has made no significant contribution to Nigeria’s educational development since its inception.

The group cited recent revelations by Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, who stated that N650 million was recommended for payment to just 60 Moroccan students in 2024 alone.

“This provides a disturbing insight into the type of drainpipe that the BEA programme had been on public funds, as well as justification for the decision to scrap it,” the statement declared.

The TDF questioned the viability of running the BEA scholarship alongside the newly established student loan scheme, NELFUND, and deemed the arrangement unsustainable.

Furthermore, the group expressed concerns about the academic potential of Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, Serbia, Hungary, and Egypt, citing language barriers as a major impediment to success.

“It is inconceivable that Nigerian students in [these countries] can achieve their full academic potential due to language barriers,” the statement said, emphasising that the required study of foreign languages under bilateral agreements frequently leaves students unprepared to compete with their peers in Nigerian universities.

The TDF also cited a lack of transparency and consistent delays in stipend payments as factors undermining the program’s credibility and sustainability.

The Democratic Front urged Nigerian youths and university students to seize the opportunities presented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to pursue quality education.

The statement concluded with a call for students to utilise available resources and contribute to the nation’s development.