ASUU Strike: Govt offers free transportation to varsity students

As universities across the country continue to reopen for lectures after eight months of industrial strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, no fewer than 900 students of Kwara State origin have been transported to 13 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

The students who were transported for free were ferried to their schools in about 50 18-seater buses on Saturday and Sunday.

The government said the move was a demonstration of its favourable disposition to the plight of students.

A statement by the Press Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mansurat Amuda-kannike, partly read, “The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Alabi Afees Abolore, disclosed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration decided to offer free transportation to Kwara students up North, in order to relieve their parents after the much-awaited suspension of ASUU strike.

“It would be recalled that the free transportation service was announced by the Ministry a few days ago, in a bid to assist the returning students to the northern axis of the country for the commencement of academic activities.”

The statement said that the government had planned to hire few buses for the exercise but had to increase it to 50 buses as a result of the upsurge in the student population that appeared for documentation at the Ministry.

It further read, “The Ministry of Tertiary Education, however, witnessed an upsurge in the number of students that appeared for documentation beyond the targeted volume that had earlier signified interest for the journey.

“Dr. Abolore explained that the Ministry made provision for 13 arrival destinations, which include Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Katsina, Kano, and FCT, among others, all of which had successfully boarded this morning and on their way for resumption to their various Schools.

“While expressing his gratitude to Governor AbdulRazaq for the laudable initiative, the commissioner emphasised the need for every government to be student-inclusive as the student community contributes a large quota towards the development of any society.

“Abolore also lauded the governor for his exemplary leadership skill, which he noted has become beneficial to the Kwara student community as a whole.”

The Welfare Director of the National Association of Kwara State Students, AbdulAfeez Saheed, appreciated the efforts of the Ministry towards the plight of the student community.

“I have to appreciate the efforts of the Commissioner for Tertiary Education towards the propagation of the insightful administration of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“It is pertinent to note that Kwara students are proud of the governor as we have witnessed an increment in our upcoming bursary allowances.

“This free transport scheme as well is enough to express the good willingness and support of our governor towards the student community and we appreciate his kind gesture,” Saheed said.

Another student leader from Umaru Musa Yar-Adua University, Kastina, Babapupa Abdullateef, also appreciated the state government for showing its kindness to students after the ASUU strike. CONTINUE READING…

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