The Niger State Government has announced plans to provide free transportation for pupils in public schools in the state in its efforts to increase enrollment and cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.
Gov Mohammed Bago stated this when he received officials of the National Examination Council (NECO), led by its registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof Ibrahim Wushishi, at the Government House, Minna.
He said: “The free transportation for the children at the basic level of education will encourage pupils to go to school at the basic education level and again cushion the effect of subsidy removal.”
The governor also noted the need for collaboration between the state and NECO to curb the challenges of out-of-school children and girl-child education.
Bago tasked NECO to find ways of supporting vocational training in the education curriculum in order to have students who would be self-reliant.
The governor further charged the council to do more in terms of corporate social responsibilities to the state, saying: “We have not felt NECO in terms of corporate social responsibilities. We have not seen a block of classrooms that has been fixed by NECO. You cannot be a tenant in our state and not add value to our people and communities.”
Prof Wushishi, who earlier stated that the purpose of the visit was to congratulate Bago for his victory at the polls and successful inauguration as the Governor of the state, sought more collaboration between NECO and Niger State Government.
A joint effort, he said, will bring immense mutual benefits.
