Governor Idris handed over the buses to the heads of the beneficiary institutions and their students’ union leaders on Wednesday at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
The beneficiary institutions are Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero; Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu; College of Advanced and Legal Studies, Yauri; Kebbi State College of Science and Technology, Jega; Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari; Kebbi State College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin Kebbi; and Kaura Gwandu School of Nursing Sciences, Ambursa.
Addressing the institutional heads and students’ union leaders, Governor Idris said the provision of the buses followed complaints and requests from stakeholders over the transportation difficulties confronting students.
He said the requests were conveyed through the Commissioner for Higher Education, special advisers and heads of the institutions.
“I received requests that the students do not have mobility and that the government should provide buses to ease their suffering. By God’s grace, this has made it possible for us to provide these buses.
“These vehicles are brand new, and I want to call on the students’ union leaders to ensure that they are used for the purposes for which they were provided and not hijacked by the management. These students need these vehicles more than the management,” the governor said.
Governor Idris urged the students’ union leaders to take ownership of the vehicles, ensure their proper maintenance and guarantee that they are used strictly for the benefit of students.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Isa Abubakar-Tunga, said the administration had increased the monthly allocation to tertiary institutions from N5 million to N10 million each.
He explained that, previously, Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, received N5 million monthly, Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, received N2 million, while other institutions received N1 million each.
“Now, the governor has increased the allocation to N10 million for each of the tertiary institutions,” he said.
Abubakar-Tunga also said the administration had facilitated the accreditation of several academic programmes that were not accredited before it assumed office.
He added that governing councils had been constituted for all tertiary institutions in the state, except the newly established Kaura Gwandu School of Nursing Sciences, Ambursa.
The commissioner commended Governor Idris for his continued support for the education sector and his commitment to improving the welfare of students and tertiary institutions across the state.
