By Muhammad Lawal

Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi, says the State Government has earmarked N6.5 billion for renovation of primary and secondary schools and supply of furniture in its 2025 budget.

Idris disclosed this at the opening of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

He added that the present administration had also purchased books worth N2.7 billion to be distributed to students free.

“I am the happiest person today, I have cause to thank God because people who understand the importance of education are here in Kebbi.

“I am happy to inform you that Kebbi is operating a free education system to ensure access to formal education by all in the state.

“We have also improved the boarding school feeding to enable our students to stay in their respective schools,” he said.

The governor added that his administration had reviewed medical doctors remunerations to be at par with what the federal government was paying to doctors.

This, according to him, is part of efforts to curb the menace of brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.

In agriculture, Idris disclosed that his administration had procured 520 trucks of fertilisers and distributed them to farmers for free.

He added that 10,000 tillers solar powered pumping machines were also procured and distributed to farmers to boost dry season framing.

In his remarks, the NUT President, Mr Audu Titus-Amba, commended the governor for the legacies he left behind in the NUT.

Titus-Amba identified one of the legacies as the extension of the years of service for teachers from 60 to 65 years.

“If not for the extension of the years of service for teachers, I wouldn’t have been here today; I would have long retired,” he said.

He described the emergence of Idris as governor of Kebbi as divine and a blessing to the state.

While thanking Idris for elevating six teachers to the rank of Permanent Secretaries, the NUT president argued that the people of Kebbi did not make a mistake of electing a teacher to be their leader.

He described Kebbi as a “second home” for teachers, adding that members of the union would continue to pray and support the governor to succeed.

Also, Dr Halima Bande, Commissioner, Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, commended the governor for the huge investment in the education sector.

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji-Na-Yelwa, the commissioner urged Idris to sustain the investment to ensure a better future for all children in the state.

Earlier, the acting Chairman of NUT in the state, Alhaji Usman Koko, also commended the governor for being an education and teacher-friendly governor.

According to him, Idris has recorded significant achievements in the last two years in office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NEC meeting was held in Kebbi in honour of the governor, who was the immediate past president of the union.

While in NUT, Idris served as  the NUT State Chairman in Kebbi and later elected the National Treasurer of the union.

He later became the National President of NUT while serving at the same time as the Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, before he was elected the governor of Kebbi. (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai