The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the indefinite suspension of the National Award Scholarship programme amid worsening financial constraints and mounting unpaid scholarship obligations.
The ministry disclosed this in a statement issued on May 29, 2026, by the Office of the Director of Press and Public Relations in Abuja.
Key Highlights:
- The Federal Ministry of Education has indefinitely suspended the National Award Scholarship programme due to funding constraints.
- The decision was linked to unpaid scholarship obligations, mismanagement concerns, and a growing backlog of debts.
- The government also dissolved the Federal Scholarship Board as part of a wider restructuring exercise.
- Scholarship administration duties will now be handled by designated departments within the ministry.
- Affected students were told outstanding payments are still under review, with no clear timeline for settlement.
According to the statement, a review of the scholarship scheme uncovered serious funding challenges linked to the alleged misappropriation of funds, operational inefficiencies, and a growing backlog of unpaid awards spanning several academic sessions.
The ministry explained that despite efforts by relevant agencies to clear outstanding obligations, available resources had remained insufficient to sustain the programme and meet commitments to beneficiaries.
“The National Award Scholarship under the Federal Scholarship Board has been suspended indefinitely,” the statement said.
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As part of a broader restructuring of scholarship administration, the ministry also announced the dissolution of the Federal Scholarship Board.
It noted that the decision followed ongoing operational reviews and was connected to the earlier suspension of the Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship Programme.
According to the ministry, the restructuring is aimed at improving transparency, strengthening institutional oversight, and establishing a more sustainable framework for managing federal educational support initiatives.
The statement added that all responsibilities previously handled by the Federal Scholarship Board would now be transferred to designated departments within the ministry as part of the reform process.
Beneficiaries were informed that all outstanding scholarship payments remain under review, with no immediate timeline provided for disbursement.
The ministry acknowledged the frustrations of affected students and scholars, expressing regret over the inconvenience caused by the development.
The decision is expected to spark concerns among students and families who depend on federal scholarship support to finance their education in tertiary institutions within Nigeria and abroad.
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