By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The leadership of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Kwara state has appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to extend distribution of palliatives on fuel subsidy removal to vulnerable students in the state.
Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, the National President of the NAKSS, Comrade Abdulwahab Arewa, and his NANS counterpart, Comrade Issa Abdulgafar, appealed to the Governor to continue to prioritise interest of students, especially at this critical time.
The students also wanted inclusion of private school students schooling in Kwara state in the students’ bursary disbursement.
The students’ leadership, who commended Governor AbdulRazaq for prioritising the welfare of students, even before the advent of economic hardship in the country, said that the Governor had proved to be a humble and proactive man, “who never gets tired of listening to the yearnings of the students, as improvement of our affairs has always remained a topmost part of his agenda.
He added: “The Governor has also approved most of our pressing demands, including the annual bursary payment, scholarship for Law students as well as some other palliatives that are tailored towards alleviating the economic hardship on the students.”
Talking about the country’s current economic crises and its resultant challenges, the students said: “As good and patriotic ambassadors, our spirit must remain unbowed as things will soon turn around for better. This is only a step towards achieving economic transformation and reformation which we all crave for.
“Let us remain hopeful and optimistic as the Kwara state government, under the purposeful leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is judiciously deploying resources at her disposal to make life easier for people, especially students in the state. Aside from the palliatives being given to students, various strategic measures have also been put in place to address the rising cost of food and other basic amenities in the state.
“As a result of this, I urge you all to remain calm and hopeful in the cause of building a new nation that will be full of great opportunities for all of us to thrive. We must not allow ourselves to be manipulated or used as agents of destructing the peace and serenity of the state by any individual or group. We must, at all times, ensure that our hope in a New Nigerian remains very much alive.”