Subsidy Palliatives: Tinubu Approves Buses For Tertiary Students, Mulls Cash Transfer

President Bola Tinubu has approved provision of buses to the students’ bodies of all federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

He has also directed immediate removal of restrictions on students access to loans while considering the possibility of conditional cash transfer and food distribution to vulnerable students nationwide. 

These moves, according to a release issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, was in furtherance of the President’s desire to ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal on students of higher institutions of learning.

The desire of the President, the statement said, is to see that students can access their campuses without much difficulty as a result of higher transportation costs.

The provision of the buses will also remove the burden of additional cost of daily commuting on parents and guardians.

In line with his promise to ensure no Nigerian student abandons his or her educational pursuits as a result of lack of money and economic circumstances of their parents, President Tinubu has also approved the removal of all restrictions on the students’ loan to make it available to any student or household that may desire it.

Similarly, the President has directed the authorities in all Federal Institutions of higher learning to avoid arbitrary increase in sundry fees payable and where possible defer further increase so that parents and students don’t face too many difficulties.

While it is important to reiterate that President Tinubu has directed release of over 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains to families in 36 states and 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 hailed the courage, wisdom and partnership of Nigerian Students as our country navigates this challenging time.

The release added that President Tinubu will continue to prioritise education and the needs of the students, improve welfare of teaching and non-academic staff and invest in infrastructure to make our institutions of higher learning become more globally competitive.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

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