President of National Association of Kaduna State Students (NAKASS), Yahaya Abdullahi has assured members of the association that the state government would commence payment of scholarship grants in the next few weeks.
Abdullahi made the disclosure during a press briefing in Kaduna while reacting to a 21-day ultimatum given to the state government over delay in the payment by a section of the students body.
The association has a total of 73, 000 students on state government scholarship.
[penci_blockquote style=”style-2″ align=”none” author=””] “Today, it is with a heavy heart we express our disappointment with the government of Nasir El-Rufai over his neglect of tertiary students of this great state in his acclaimed educational reform,” he stated.[/penci_blockquote]
According to the association president, the state government had approved the payment two months ago, assuring that effort is on to facilitate the release of the money.
“The scholarship board is sorting and making processes for the awardees which is to be delivered in few weeks to all beneficiaries,” he said.
Abdullahi cautioned the students against using the name of the association to ridicule its image.
He however called on the state government to fast track the payment of the scholarship to reduce the hardship being faced by students of the state in tertiary institutions.
NAKASS National Secretary, Jeremiah Gwaza, had issued a statement on Thursday, giving the government up to Nov. 1, to pay the students who had been denied the privilege for three years.
Gwaza had said that the students body had exhausted every means for dialogue with relevant stakeholders to resolve the matter.
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“Today, it is with a heavy heart we express our disappointment with the government of Nasir El-Rufai over his neglect of tertiary students of this great state in his acclaimed educational reform,” he stated.
Gwaza had lamented that the 73, 000 students are being subjected to various forms of hardships and challenges ranging from non payment of tuition fees which had led to deferment of sessions and semesters and in some cases withdrawal, while others are finding it difficult to pay for accommodation or study materials.
“Kaduna state students in tertiary institutions are studying under intense frustration which is leading to immense depression,” he said.