1st June, 2014
The Ogun Government said on Saturday that it had committed N21.6 billion to subvention to its tertiary institutions in the last three years.
“We have given due attention to tertiary education. An average of N600 million is paid monthly to our tertiary institutions as subvention.
“This amounts to over N21.6 billion in the last three years,” Governor Ibikunle Amosun disclosed at a stakeholders’ forum in Abeokuta.
He noted that his administration had also drastically reduced the fees payable in the nine state-owned tertiary institutions thereby making higher education affordable to all.
Amosun said the government had also purchased 54-seater TATA Buses, Hilux Patrol Vehicles, Ambulances and 18-seater buses for the two state universities and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
“Our highly successful cashless collection policy has generated considerable additional revenue which is being re-invested directly by the institutions,” he said.
He added that the government had also spent N3.25 billion on the purchase of textbooks and instructional materials which were distributed freely to pupils in public primary and secondary schools.
He explained that the free education initiative of the government had resulted in a steady increase in student enrolment.
Amosun said the government had completed the construction of 15 out of 28 model schools it planned to accommodate the growing population of students.
“Each school has full boarding facilities and a carrying capacity of 1,000 students.
“These schools are expected to commence academic activities in September 2014,” he said.
He explained that government’s huge investment in the education sector was part of its rebuilding agenda.