President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the deployment of buses to all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, the decision was taken to support Tinubu’s objective to alleviate the burden of the elimination of gasoline subsidies on students at higher education institutions.
The statement comes in the midst of organised labor’s insistence on holding a statewide protest on August 2.
According to a presidential spokesman, the president’s goal is for students to be able to get to their campuses without too much hardship as a result of the increase in transportation prices.
He explained that the availability of the buses will go a long way towards relieving parents and guardians of the additional cost of daily commuting.
According to the statement, President Tinubu has commanded that all limits on the students’ loan be removed in order to make it available to any student or household that desires it.
He stated that the new direction was in keeping with his vow to ensure that no Nigerian student drops out of school due to a lack of funds or the economic situations of their parents.
Alake further stated that Tinubu has urged administrators in all Federal Institutions of Higher Learning to prevent arbitrary increases in sundry fees payable and, where possible, postpone any increases so that parents and students do not incur undue hardship.
“While President Tinubu has directed the release of over 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains to families in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the government is working to ensure that vulnerable students can also benefit from conditional cash transfers and food distribution.”
“The Federal Government salutes Nigerian students’ courage, wisdom, and collaboration as our country navigates this difficult time.”
“President Tinubu will continue to prioritise education and student needs, improve the welfare of teaching and non-academic staff, and invest in infrastructure to make our institutions of higher learning more globally competitive,” Alake said on the presidency’s behalf.
