In a bid to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on students in higher institutions of learning, President Bola Tinubu has taken significant steps to ease their financial burdens.
A State House press statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, Dele Alake, outlined the measures aimed at supporting Nigerian students across the country.
One of the major initiatives announced in the press statement is the provision of buses to students’ bodies in all universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
This move seeks to address the challenges faced by students due to rising transportation costs, ensuring that they can access their campuses without undue financial strain. By providing buses, the burden of daily commuting expenses will be lifted, easing the financial pressure on parents and guardians as well.
President Tinubu also demonstrated his commitment to supporting students’ educational pursuits by removing all restrictions on students’ loans. This decision makes the students’ loan accessible to any student or household in need, aiming to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder students from pursuing their academic dreams.
Furthermore, to prevent additional financial strain on parents and students, the President directed the authorities in all Federal Institutions of higher learning to avoid arbitrary increases in sundry fees. Where possible, any further increases will be deferred to reduce the financial burden on students and their families.
The Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable students is evident through the release of over 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains to families across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Additionally, the Federal Government is working to ensure that vulnerable students can also benefit from conditional cash transfers and food distribution.
