Kebbi State Government said it has spent N2.5 billion to improve the standards of primary and secondary schools in the state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the state Commissioner for Basic Secondary Education, Halima Muhammad-Bande, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the state’s capital, on Friday.
She said, “The state government has done its best within 100 days of Governor Nasir Idris as the governor of the state in the area of education, as it has been able to pay school feeding of N1.8 million from May to July.
“There is also payment of N55.6 million enhanced feeding to boarding secondary schools and N20 million payment for the conduct of Basic Education Certificate Examination for 2023.”
Muhammad-Bande added that the government spent N20 million to sponsor the national conference held in Delta and N5.4 million for the Joint Consultative Council meeting in Makurdi.
“Apart from his commitment to reforming the education sector, the governor approved the domestication of the National Assembly Act on new retirement age for teachers from 60 years to 65 years by birth and 35 years to 40 years of service,” she said.
Ms Muhammad-Bande said the education sector was familiar to the governor, who had been a professional teacher, labour activist and education-friendly governor.
“Since coming to power barely three months ago, he has approved over N2.4 billion for the construction and renovation of schools in the 21 local government areas of the state,” she said.
Ms Muhammad-Bande appreciated the governor for actualising the dreams of teachers, stating that the gesture would boost their morale.
