Ibikunle Amosun, senator representing Ogun central senatorial district, has said that the Muhammadu Buhari administration, has committed more than 1.7 trillion naira of capital intervention to Nigeria’s tertiary institutions since assumption of office in 2015
According to the immediate past governor of Ogun State, who was represented by Taiwo Adeoluwa, the intervention were through various means, “including TETFund – with the universities taking the lion share of the total amount. The Federal Government has disbursed more than 170 billion Naira in UBE Matching Grants to States and the FCT since 2015, 8 billion Naira in Special Education Grant to States and private providers of Special Education, and 34 billion Naira from the Teachers Professional Development Fund to States and the FCT. A sum of 6 Billion Naira was also released to six institutions referred to as Centres of Excellence for curriculum development.
The Abeokuta-born politician spoke at the 2021 Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo Council week in Ibadan, the state capital.
Juxtaposing the six years administration of the APC with the sixteen years rule of his former party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Amosun noted that Nigeria has fared well under Buhari’s six years reign and the progress is visible for all to see.
“The administration also launched the Alternate School Programme (ASP), designed to ensure that every out-of-school child in Nigeria gains access to quality basic education, irrespective of social, cultural or economic circumstance, in line with the aspirations of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4). Presidential approval for a new (extended) Retirement age of 65 and Length of Service of 40 years for Teachers in Public Basic and Secondary Schools in Nigeria (both effective January 1, 2021), as well as a new Special Teachers Salary Scale (effective January 1, 2022), and also a new Special Teachers Pension Scheme.
“The APC administration led by President Buhari has been able to reduce the number of out-of-school children, by 3,247,590, as at 31st December, 2020, achieved through a World-Bank financed program known as ‘Better Education Service Delivery for All’ (BESDA). 1,792,833 of that number achieved through formal schools while 1,454,757 are through non-formal interventions such as Almajiri, Girl-Child, Nomadic/Migrant and IDPs Education). Under the World Bank-supported Innovation Development & Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, approved in 2020, US$200m was invested in 6 participating States (Abia, Benue, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Edo) as well as 20 Federal Science and Technical Colleges nationwide. Implementation was stepped-up in 2021 to afford millions of Nigerian youths the opportunity to acquire hands-on skills to effectively contribute to national development.
“Overall, while the administration has indeed made some significant strides in the education sector, there are still several challenges yet to be tackled.
Explaining that Buhari has done more good for the country and will leave office a hero, he described leadership as the major problem confronting Nigeria.
He posited that the current issues confronting the country, most especially insecurity, were as a result of the sixteen years misrule of the PDP, he thereby urged all Nigerians to support President Buhari as he continued to battle the many problems facing the nation.
“Agriculture and infrastructure have been the major focus of the Buhari’s administration. The farmers have obtained more friendly loan packages than before. Nigeria rail system was regarded as the worst in Africa before the Buhari’s emergence in 2015. Buhari has initiated, completed and delivered remarkable major rail netwroks and Nigeria now has the best rail system in West Africa with thousands of jobs created”.
He further stated that; “President Muhammadu Buhari has done so much good for the nation and when he leaves office in 2023, he would have done more good for the nation than any other government before him”.
Amosun was also honoured with an award of excellence as the Nation’s Bridge Builder and Icon of Progressive Bloc by the Union. The award was presented by Florence Ajimobi, the wife of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi for his progressive ingenuity, friendly administrative policies and expanding cooperation among the APC chieftains across the country.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s team who attended the event included Professor Adeolu Akande (Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission) who was also the Chairman of the occasion, Alh. Bola Adeyemi, Chief Wole Elegbede, Hon. Raheem Ajayi Baglo, Dr. Oye; among others.
