Kebbi government allocates N6.5 billion for school renovation, furniture provision
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has announced that the state government has set aside N6.5 billion in its 2025 budget for the renovation of primary and secondary schools as well as the provision of furniture.
Mr Idris made this known during the opening session of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), held in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
He further stated that the current administration had procured books worth N2.7 billion, which would be distributed to students at no cost.
“I am the happiest person today. I have cause to thank God because people who understand the importance of education are here in Kebbi.”
“I am happy to inform you that Kebbi is operating a free education system to ensure access to formal education by all in the state.”
“We have also improved the boarding school feeding to enable our students to stay in their respective schools,” he said.
The governor went on to say that his administration had adjusted the salaries of medical doctors to match the remuneration offered by the federal government.
This, he noted, was part of the measures aimed at addressing the issue of brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.
On the subject of agriculture, Mr Idris revealed that his administration had secured 520 truckloads of fertiliser, which were distributed to farmers at no cost.
He also disclosed that 10,000 tillers and solar-powered water pumping machines had been acquired and distributed to farmers to promote dry-season farming.
In his speech, the NUT President, Audu Titus-Amba, applauded the governor for the contributions he had made to the NUT during his tenure.
Mr Titus-Amba highlighted one such contribution as the extension of the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years.
“If not for the extension of the years of service for teachers, I wouldn’t have been here today; I would have long retired,” he said.
He described Mr Idris’s emergence as the Governor of Kebbi as divine and a blessing to the state.
While appreciating Mr Idris for promoting six teachers to the rank of permanent secretary, the NUT President stated that the people of Kebbi had made no mistake in electing a teacher as their leader.
He described Kebbi as a “second home” for teachers and affirmed that members of the union would continue to pray for and support the governor’s success.
Also speaking, Halima Bande, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, praised the governor for the significant investment made in the education sector.
Represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Abubakar Magaji-Na-Yelwa, the commissioner encouraged Governor Idris to maintain the investment to secure a brighter future for all children in the state.
Earlier, the Acting Chairman of the NUT in the state, Usman Koko, also praised the governor for being supportive of education and for his friendly disposition towards teachers.
According to him, Mr Idris had achieved remarkable progress within his two years in office.
The NEC meeting was hosted in Kebbi in honour of the governor, who had previously served as the national president of the union.
During his time in the NUT, Mr Idris held the position of NUT State Chairman in Kebbi and was subsequently elected as the union’s National Treasurer.
He later became the National President of the NUT while concurrently serving as Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, before being elected Governor of Kebbi.
