Contrary to insinuations in the media, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State paid the sum of over N200 million for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 sessions respectively as scholarship funds for students of Bauchi State origin studying at Igbenidion University, Okada, Edo State.

Consequently, the government has debunked a story on some online media platforms (News Express not included) concerning the scholarship funding, describing it as not only misleading but untrue.

A press statement titled “Bauchi Students at Igbinedion University: Setting the record straight”, signed by Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar, Special Assistant on Communications to the Governor, said: “The Government of His Excellency Gov. M.A Abubakar inherited such students from the previous regime which did not make adequate preparations for their scholarship,” adding, “It paid less than 50% of their tuition fees for the first year (2014/2015).”

“From the inception, the present administration recognizing the importance of education to societal growth decided to step in and salvage the situation and save the students from their plight by paying the 50% balance of their tuition and upkeep for the 2014/2015 session. Additionally, despite inheriting an empty treasury coupled with paucity of funds due to fallen oil prices, Governor MA Abubakar paid the university the sum of about 200,000,000 (Two hundred million Naira) for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 sessions respectively. This is a verifiable piece of information. So, in total, Gov. Abubakar has paid over 200,000,000 if the 50% of their first year was included.

“We find it rather perplexing how the students are complaining and even accusing the Governor of abandoning them. His Excellency had since given approval for the payment of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 sessions’ tuition and upkeep. Just a few weeks ago, the Governor dispatched his Commissioner for Education to the University where they agreed on a timeline for the payments, and that was settled,” the statement issued on Friday in Bauchi noted.

“However, our findings from the University authorities suggest that some of the students who failed their exams and are forced to re-sit them during summer semester are behind the so-called press release. The registrar of the University confirmed that the University did NOT stop any student from writing exams or carrying on with his/her lectures. In fact, summer classes or semester is NOT attached to the tuition fees and the registrar had explained clearly to the affected students including students from Kano,” the statement further clarified.

It pointed out that “Governor M.A. Abubakar deserves commendation, not condemnation.”