National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The National Association of Kwara State Students (NANS), has congratulated the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as he marks one year in office as the Governor of Kwara State.
In a statement signed by the Chairman, Comr. Salami Wasiu Onidugbé GCAF, Publicity Secretary Comr. Taiwo Olamilekan John and Director of Media and Publicity -Comr. Mansur Kolawole commended the Governor for his achievement in the education sector for the past one year.
The statement read: “This day last year – May 29, 2019 – Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq took the oath of office as the elected Governor of Kwara state. After a mixed start, the hope and goodwill on which Governor AbdulRahman was elected a year ago is starting to run in education sector.
“Today marks Governor AbdulRahman’s first year in office as the twentieth Governor of the state. As such, the leadership of the apex students’ body in the state commends his giant strides in education by attributing the unprecedented development in primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education to the commitment of the Governor to restore the lost glory of education in the state.
“The problems that bedeviled the education sector of the State when Governor AbdulRahman assumed the position of power seemed unsurmountable but in no time, the Governor with determination and sincerity of purpose achieved so many feats in the sector with little or no resources within the shortest possible time.
“To start with tertiary Institutions, the payment of over 700 million naira to colleges of education, by the administration of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, of which accumulated to seven months’ salary arrears owned by the last administration is commendable. The prestigious and long-existing colleges of education were a walking corpse. The staff members therein had embarked on incessant strike due to non-payment of salaries.
“However, today, the colleges of education are back on their feet with non-stop payment of salary.
“Also, payment of over #160 million for the accreditation exercise of the College of Education Technical Lafiaji, School of Nursing and Midwifery Ilorin, College of Health Technology Offa and College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies Ilorin by Governor AbdulRahman of which has been neglected by the last administration. Non-payment of the accreditation exercise has made the aforementioned schools nearly lost their old glory and has led to protests by students. Today, the schools can boast of having well accredited courses.
“Again, the Introduction of electronic payment of bursary is a commendable one. The e-payment of bursary by Gov. AbdulRahman has saved the students bursaries from the hands of embezzlers from some government officials.
“Others are road rehabilitations in colleges of education Ilorin and College of Health Technology Offa, establishment of a-300 establishment of ICT centre in college of Health Technology Offa, payment of over #4M of repair of linking roof of over four major building in the college, issuance of ambulance to College of Health Technology Offa, among others.
“While we applaud the aforementioned substantial achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in tertiary Institutions within the short period of time, our Institutions are still laced with other challenges. We, however, urge the Executive Governor, during the path of his second year in office, to critically look into; payment of subvention to Kwasu, Kwara poly and health tech Offa. Also, rehabilitation of the road that leads to Kwara State University Malete, more infrastructure development in tertiary Institutions, power supply in school of Nursing Okeode, construction of hostels in Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin, well equipped health centre at College of Education Technical Lafiaji, rehabilitation of College of Education Oro first gate road, reduction of Kwasu and other Institutions school fees, well equipped ICT centres, among others.
“At the basic and secondary school levels, we commend the Executive Governor for the rehabilitation of over 30 schools across the state. However, schools in the rural areas also need swift attention. Their classrooms and school environment are not conducive for teaching and learning process.
“Also, we commend the non-stop payment of primary and secondary staff salaries by Gov. AbdulRahman since the inception of his administration. We however urge the Governor to take a look at the backlog of salaries of SUBEB staffs owned by the last administration.
“We, however, call the attention of the Governor to revive the scholarship given to students who performed excellently in mock examinations, that will serve as an extrinsic motivations to students to prepare well ahead of the exam. Also, to prioritize entrepreneurship skills in secondary schools – theory in Junior Secondary School and the practical aspect should be done in Senior Secondary School – that will expose the students and help them to be financially independent when the time to choose career comes in.
“On this note, the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students, Kwara State Axis, congratulates and commends the Executive Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his giant strides in education, and for achieving all these feats within a short period of one year and urge him not to relent in his effort to take the education to an enviable height.” it added.
