The Managing Director
Niger Delta Development Commission
168 Aba Road
Port Harcourt
River State

Sir,

Total neglect of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 2015 MSc and PhD scholars in foreign universities

We, the Niger Delta Development Commission 2015 postgraduate scholars at various universities in United Kingdom, USA, Canada, and the Republic of Belarus, hereby bring in a unified plea for prompt payment of all pending travel allowances, tuition and living expenses.

On arrival at our various universities, we got enrolled, set up our bank accounts and forwarded our bank details and enrollment letters to NDDC as we were instructed. Since we’ve met all requirement set by the NDDC, we expected funds to be released into our accounts for such basic essentials as accommodation, warm clothing and food as most of us travelled with little or no funds. We made several attempts to contact the NDDC in this regard but we were given a constantly shifting expected date of payment. After several failed promises and assurances, the NDDC decided to ignore us totally as neither emails are replied nor calls answered/returned. As of today, most 2015 scholars are yet to receive ANY funds from NDDC, despite confirmation of enrolment by the universities and subsequent visits by NDDC representatives for verification.

This inhumane and acute neglect by the management of the NDDC has not only affected the purpose of the scholarship scheme as envisaged by the Nigerian government but also the psychology and mind set of the scholars who are being groomed as future leaders. Nigerian students are known for hard work and good grades, but we cannot deliver our utmost in this state, as the aim of the scholarship is greatly subverted.

Recently, a vast majority of 2016 scholars received full payment of their entitlements, a new batch of 2017 scholars are ready to be awarded, yet 2015 scholars are still languishing in sheer despair. Where did we go wrong?
After your interview at Channels TV and a subsequent publication on the NDDC website on 17th July 2017, we celebrated in hope that our hardship will soon end, but weeks has turned into months, and we are about to start just another school year with heightened frustrations. We have worked with our universities to make it easier to verify genuine scholars, and we are aware that these verifications have been completed long before now. It is becoming clearer by the day that each promise to pay the scholars is just another charade. If there is any issues with the system, should we be made to suffer the consequence?

We humbly plead with you to look into our plight. We are going through unbearable hardship and it is getting worst by the day. Our request is as detailed below;

That all outstanding tuition fees, maintenance funds and travel allowances (covering old and new academic year) to all 2015 scholars in foreign universities.
That NDDC should stop short paying the UK based 2015 students. The scholarship award is valued at $30,000.00, but the NDDC pays ONLY £19,200 to UK students. There is no record of where the difference goes, and these are funds meant for the students use.
That ALL 2015 students that were short paid, be reimbursed of the difference.

We have appealed, and continue to appeal to the NDDC to do her bid. It is completely unfair that we have been abandoned and left to suffer for justifications yet to be understood from the commission.
As you already know, rents and bills must be paid in time else services would be cut. It is not like Nigeria where we can go knocking on doors expecting strangers (or even other Nigerians) to take us in or feed us. This is a system where excuses are not accepted for failure to pay in time. You have travelled, and you know how unforgiving the system is. How does the NDDC expect us to cope? Rents in some cities are as high as £650 per month; where do we get such amount to pay when NDDC keeps giving excuses for non-payment? We want you to know that for every day that passes, our suffering increases. Many of us are homeless or forced to do things that are not morally right because NDDC fails to do her part. We sought scholarships because of our humble backgrounds, and given the current foreign exchange regime, the little amount of money sent from home can’t afford peanuts when it’s eventually converted.

Whatever excuses there is, we want you to know that our situation remains. We shouldn’t be left to suffer because of office politics or selfish gains within the system. We are not ghost students, and this can be easily verified by reaching out to our institutions. Besides, Our Universities have sent numerous letters to NDDC demanding funds on our behalf because they know first-hand what we contend with. Most Universities have gone further to ask NDDC to, first of all, pay the scholars the Maintenance/upkeep funds to allow them settle in, while the tuition will be paid later. To our astonishment, NDDC would first pay tuition to the universities, but allow scholars many months/years of suffering. This is indeed a faulted model. The NDDC can borrow a leaf from the likes of PTDF; they are Nigerian agencies, but they are proactive and professional in their dealings with scholars.

We have remained civil and patriotic citizens of the Nigerian state, and good ambassadors of the commission despite the grievous pains and hardships caused by willful actions of the commission, and that patience is almost exhausted as we have suffered enough.

By the 13th of September 2017 we shall be left with no other option than to explore every other means within our disposal to make our voices heard and to bring to the notice of the world our plights. At this moment, most of us have been evicted for failure to pay a backlog of overdue rent/bills and some are facing lawsuits for failure to fulfil the terms of tenancy agreements. Most recently, two (2) Students were reportedly admitted for severe depression that could lead to psychosis.

Before we embark on a protest march as a last resort, we earnestly appeal to you and your good offices, for responsive interventions that will save our reputation, that of the commission and our dear country Nigeria.

We look up to you, and we trust you to help us in this time of dire need.


Yours sincerely,

Signed: All NDDC PhD. and MSc Scholars in United Kingdom, Canada, Republic of Belarus, United States of America and the rest of the world.
We are willing to send ANY documents as proof to you to confirm that we are genuine scholars whenever you may need. Our institutions are also ready to make contact with ANYONE that need direct proof and we can send names and contact details on the shortest notice.

Cc Lalasticlala
Cc Mynd44