Yobe earmarks N3.03 billion for schools’ upgrade, exams, feeding

The Yobe state government has earmarked N3.03 billion for the upgrade and rehabilitation of public schools, feeding and payment of West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSC) fees for its students.

Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Abdullahi Bego who disclosed this said the sum would also cover special remedial programme for Yobe students in the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) as well as fees in various Nigeria-Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) in Mamudo, Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja among others.

While restating government’s commitment to education, Bego said of the sum, N1.3 billion would be used for the renovation of three government secondary schools; N408.9 billion for feeding of students in boarding schools during the last academic session and N188.9 billion is being spent in the current academic session.

He disclosed that government has made a 50 percent down payment to WAEC for the 2017 examination; a condition he said must be met for any state government to have its students participate in the examinations.

“Under our special arrangement with the University of Maiduguri, Yobe students undertake a remedial programme each year to enable them fully
qualify for admission to various courses in the University. A total sum of N52.6 million was paid by the government for up to 5, 000 students to participate in this year’s remedial programme.”

Bego further disclosed that the state government paid N27.73 million for registration, examination fees and upkeep of Yobe students admitted under a special arrangement with Fountain University, Oshogbo.He assured stakeholders in the sector that the present administration would continue to give education the pride of place.