Non-payment of grants: NDDC scholarship beneficiaries lament

Some beneficiaries of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s postgraduate foreign scholarship have accused the Federal Government of not paying their grants since they commenced their programmes in different countries.

The beneficiaries claimed that their various institutions had started threatening to withdraw their studentship.

One of the beneficiaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, said most scholars resorted to doing menial jobs to raise funds for their programmes, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic had, however, blocked all avenues for income.

He noted that over 210 students were affected.

He said, “Nine months after resumption, the scholars spread across the UK, the US, Canada, and other parts of the world have yet to receive payment for their tuition and living costs. The take-off grant of N500,000, which should have been paid before we left Nigeria in September 2019, was paid eight months later in April 2020.

“Meanwhile, we took loans, emptied our personal accounts and raised funds from families while relying on the promise of the NDDC and the Federal Government, to make the journey to our various institutions. Some are still stranded at home, because they have not been able to raise the funds for their visa applications and flight tickets.

“While we were informed that some schools had MoU with the NDDC, it is sad that today, even these schools have started to transfer the tuition debts to the scholars with threats of deactivating the studentship and deporting the affected scholars.”

The source said the beneficiaries have had to pay high rents, settle necessary academic expenses and could barely afford any form of relaxation, adding that this was not the case with scholars of other bodies in the various institutions.

The student stated, “With this very precarious situation, scholars are still expected to maintain excellent academic records. Even though this is a full scholarship, we have had to do odd jobs, barely getting to sleep. This is not what we signed up for! We have watched our excitement turn into anxiety, not only us, but also our families.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has made many scholars to lose their menial jobs from where they get extra funds. When the take-off grant was paid, we were assured on Twitter by the commission that all was set for the payment of the other fees and that as soon as the CBN could execute the forex requirements, we would be paid. Sadly, this has not happened. We are in the ninth month of the 12-month programme.”

Another student, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said his institution had written several reminders to the NDDC with no result, adding that the institution had denied him access to any of its services.

He said, “I had to use my savings to come over to start my studies and when I resumed in January, I paid a lot of fees on my own. We kept on reaching out to the NDDC and there was no response; the school has written to the commission several times, yet no response.

“When the NDDC paid the take-off grant, I had to use it to repay the loan I took for the first quarterly accommodation and now the school has written to me that they are tired of extending and they have sent my tuition invoice to me twice, and sent letters and reminders to the NDDC, but we have not got anything from the commission.

“The last email the school sent to me was that in as much that it was willing to extend, there was a limit to which it could and that it was gradually reaching the limit and any moment from now, it would transfer the tuition debt to me to pay and if I didn’t pay within 30 days, I would be disconnected from accessing any of the university’s services. It’s a terrible situation we have found ourselves.

“I resumed in January and I was trying to find a job when the coronavirus pandemic started, so I don’t even have a job at the moment and the few opportunities I have are care jobs and they are so risky. I’m at the point where I have to decide whether to risk my life and take the care job or starve.”

Another beneficiary, who also spoke anonymously, said the development had traumatised him emotionally. Punch