By Sonia C. Orjiako
Birnin Kebbi, June 21, 2024 – The Kebbi State Government is poised to initiate significant infrastructural improvements at the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero (KSUSTA). This announcement was made by the Commissioner for High Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar Tunga, during a press briefing held in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.
In his address, Commissioner Tunga outlined Governor Nasir Idris’s comprehensive plan to revamp the university’s facilities. The initiative includes the renovation of 50 houses and a mosque, alongside the construction of new hostels and staff quarters. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the educational infrastructure in Kebbi State and to maintain KSUSTA’s standing among the top ten state-owned universities in Nigeria.
Commissioner for High Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar Tunga
Responding to a recent press conference by the state branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tunga emphasized the administration’s dedication to educational advancement. He criticized ASUU’s timing, noting that the union should have sought an update from his office regarding the payment of their consequential adjustment. “The memo I submitted to the Governor has been forwarded to the Due Process Office. The due process has completed work on the file. Immediately the Governor returns from the Hajj, he will give his approval and payment will be effected,” Tunga assured.
Highlighting the governor’s commitment, Tunga revealed that Governor Idris has already tripled the university’s cash allocation from N5 million to N15 million, allowing the institution to clear part of the arrears owed to lecturers. “The Branch ASUU Chairman was a beneficiary; he rang me to say ‘thank you’,” Tunga added, highlighting the positive impact of the increased funding.
Moreover, Tunga disclosed that the administration is finalizing the process to secure N1.5 billion from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) for KSUSTA. He called on citizens to be patient and supportive of Governor Idris’s administration, who is working diligently within the state’s limited resources to meet the people’s demands.
KSUSTA
In addition to these infrastructural improvements, Governor Idris has approved N119 million for KSUSTA’s first convocation, set to graduate 12 sets of students who have not had a formal graduation ceremony since the university’s inception. This historic convocation is a significant milestone for the institution and its students.
Further investments include a N40 million allocation for the accreditation of courses in the College of Sciences and an additional N10 million monthly for staff salaries. These steps are aimed at resolving lingering issues inherited from the previous administration and ensuring the smooth operation of the university.
Comrd. Dr. Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu) Executive Governor, Kebbi State.
“The Governor has set up a committee comprising members from Higher Education and Health to oversee the conversion of the Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo, into a Teaching Hospital for KSUSTA. This initiative demonstrates Kaura’s (Governor Idris’s) strong commitment to the progress and excellence of education in Kebbi,” Tunga emphasized.
Addressing security concerns, Commissioner Tunga expressed satisfaction with the security measures at the university. He clarified that a recent kidnapping incident involving a lecturer occurred in Aliero Town, not on the university campus. Similarly, a threat against another academic staff member took place outside the university gates during a rainstorm when the lecturer sought shelter.
These announcements signify a robust commitment from the Kebbi State Government to elevate the standards of higher education and provide a safe and conducive learning environment at KSUSTA. Governor Idris’s administration continues to prioritize educational development, reflecting his background as an educationist and his vision for a brighter future for Kebbi State’s academic institutions.
SKJ