The popularity and performance ratings of Kwara State governor, Alh. AbdulFatah Ahmed suddenly looked up during the week.
The subsidy palliatives rolled out by the state government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal did the magic.
Indeed, these are the best times for Governor Ahmed. In the history of his eight months old administration, he had not received as much accolades as he recorded during the week. Even the opposition shared in this view as no voice has been raised from any quarters against the well-thought our palliative measures.
The governor had during the week announced that students of Kwara State extraction schooling in the state – owned Kwara State University will from next session pay N99, 500 as opposed to N150, 000.
The governor who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media (SSA), Dr. Muideen Akorede said the phased palliative measures were designed to cushion the impact of the increase in the price of petrol.
He also announced the abolition of school fees from primary to Senior Secondary School levels in the state.
“KWASU students are also to benefit from a new mass transit system under which government will allocate two new buses each on routes to the university as well as to the university of Ilorin and the Kwara state Polytechnic.
The vocal elements of the society – the Students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) were the first to rained encomiums on the governor over the palliative measures, especially the ones rolled out in the education sector.
Representatives of NANS and NAKSS had during a solidarity visit to Governor Ahmed to express their appreciation on the palliative measures said the government has proved beyond reasonable doubts that, it has the interest of students and indeed their parents at heart by the far reaching and soothing palliatives.
The students who came in their thousands chanting solidarity songs, praised the governor for being the only governor that did not only receive labour and students associations during the fuel subsidy crises but also mingled with the protesters. “With these palliatives without waiting for agitation and confrontation, and reducing the financial burden on our parents, the students said, “you are indeed the millennium governor.”
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alh. Oba AbdulWahab, the students who spoke through their leaders, Comrades Sakiru Akorede of NANS and Basambo Abubakar of NAKSS expressed appreciation on behalf of their colleagues to Governor Ahmed for the steps so far taken to promote the interest and welfare of students in the State.
Presenting an Award of Excellence on behalf of NANS in appreciation of the kind gesture of the governor, NANS Senate President, Comrade Oluwole Kolade, who praised him for the giant strides recorded since his assumption of office, also passed a vote of confidence on his administration.
Responding, Governor Ahmed urged the students to avoid being used as agents of destruction by a few political merchandise in the society and advised them to be part of efforts to reform the society and make life more conducive for the citizenry.
He told the students that since the inception of his administration, the state government had designed policies which are capable of catering for the youths who constitute about 70 per cent of the total population of the State.
Describing the students as future Nigerian leaders, Alhaji Ahmed assured them that his administration would ensure that the path to make them realise this objective was not eroded; pointing out that government will put measures in place to make youths in the State acquire qualitative education.
The state Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state said it “received with fulfillment the cheery news of abolition of school fees and levies in all Senior Secondary Schools across the State including reduction by 30% the Kwara State University’s (KWASU) tuition Fee signaling a genuine Free Education Policy.
The party which spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Alh. Mas’ud Adebimpe noted that “the bold step taken by the state governor, Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed at this point in time to cushion the effects of the current increase in pump price? is a? right step in the right direction. The party commended the governor’s high sense of patriotism and? selfless service .
He added “As a party which believes in the service to the people, we view? this government giant strides towards provision of qualitative education to all and sundry? as? a highly commendable and laudable efforts? and a? good omen for? other populist policies the PDP government would put in place for the good people of the? State.
“The Party equally noted with satisfaction various programmes, schemes and policies introduced by the governor – all aimed at eliminating poverty in the state including the recent signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of over N70 billion with a Spanish Investors for massive rice production in the state.
“All these courageous steps of the ruling PDP administration to boost the socio- economic status of the people, using agricultural sector as a? potent tool in fighting and eliminating poverty, are? commendable wisdom in the determination of the State? government to make life meaningful for the people and? create jobs for the? teeming? youths”.
Also, a lecturer at the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, Mr. AbdulGaniyu Olesin commended the state government over the reduction in the tuition fees of the state university in Malete.
He described the measure and others in the education sector as a great relief for both the students and parents alike.
In his own comment, a senior staff of the State’s Primary Education Board (SUBEB) who does not want his name in the print advised the governor to go a step forward by working out “special’ allowance for the teachers in the rural areas.
This, he said would encourage the teachers to reside in their places of posting and as well brings to fruition the government’s intention of ensuring qualitative teaching and learning process in all public schools in the state.