NAN-H-20
Scholarship
Lafia, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has urged the state scholarship board to hasten the payment of scholarship to qualified indigene students of the state.
Mr Daniel Ogazzi, the Chairman, state House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology made the call on Wednesday, adding that the harsh economic condition made it imperative.
Ogazzi spoke while the Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board, Alhaji Suleiman Abdulwahab was before the committee to give clarification on the delayed payment of the 2015/2016 students’ scholarship.
He said that the education committee decided to invite the Secretary to explain the delay, in spite of the approval given by the state government in April.
“We did not invite you to witchhunt you but we, as the representatives of the people and other people of the state, we want to know what is the cause of the delay in the payment, despite approval by the state government.
“What are you doing towards the prompt payment of scholarships to students– owing to complaints by both parents and students across the state.
“Because the payment of the scholarships to students will not only improve the standard of education but will also reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians, as well as improve the standard of living of students”.
Earlier, Abdulwahab said that the state government released N100 million out of the N294 million required for the payment of the students’ scholarships.
“Part of the money released was used to print cards for 19,764 qualified students, after the screening of over 20,000 applicants that applied for the exercise,” he said.
He appealed to the students to be patient as the state government was making concerted efforts to commence the disbursement of the scholarships.
Abdulwahab pledged the board’s determination and commitment to give premium attention to the welfare of students in order to improve the quality of education in the state and the country at large. (NAN)
BAB/ORO/BOS
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/dele bodunde