Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has declared free education for all primary and secondary schools starting from the upcoming academic session.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that this move aims at mitigating the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy.
The decision comes merely 48 hours after the governor announced a 50 percent reduction in the state university fees.
This newspaper learnt that Governor Kefas made the declaration at Ebenezer Primary School in Wukari during his assessment tour.
He emphasised that it is the government’s responsibility to bear the expenses, and students should not be burdened with any fees.
The governor stated that besides fulfilling a campaign promise, the necessity of the move was further underscored by the hardships resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy.
Earlier, during his visit to Taraba State University in Jalingo on Wednesday, Governor Kefas abolished school fees at the university, prioritising the delivery of quality education.
Furthermore, the governor has declared a state of emergency in the education sector and remains committed to providing free education at the primary and secondary school levels.
Emmanuel Bello, the governor’s spokesperson, conveyed the joy expressed by many university students in response to the announcement. They believe that the fee reduction will significantly improve their lives.
“Some parents stated that the removal of fuel subsidy had made it difficult to pay school fees. They expressed hope and gratitude for the fee reduction,” Bello said.
