Gov Kefas Assures More Funding For Tertiary Institutions

The Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, has called on heads of tertiary institutions in the state to support his administration's effort to revamp the education sector. The governor made this call while meeting with heads of various tertiary institutions in the state on Monday in Jalingo.

Kefas reassured the school heads that funding would no longer be a headache, as he was committed to devoting a large sum of funds from loans in the education sector. The governor highlighted his plans to use these funds to address outstanding salaries of tertiary institutions in the state, including the immediate approval of payments for outstanding salaries of the state university.

 

The governor disclosed that the loans would be directly tied to projects that promote transparency and accountability in the sector. Kefas noted that the meeting with school heads shall be on a sustained basis to offer solutions to the challenges in the education sector.

 

Kefas explained that education is at the base of all the development plans he has for the state. He added that youth restiveness and inner city crimes can be tied to the decay in the education sector.

 

The governor highlighted the huge budget required to revamp education, but he said his administration was thinking outside the box to raise more funds. He noted that the government was targeting agriculture and solid minerals to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to supplement Federal Government funds.

 

Kefas emphasized the importance of the meeting, especially as schools were about to reopen. He noted that he needed the support and buy-in of tertiary heads to make the free education policy feasible.

 

With regard to the energy crisis in schools, the governor said solar energy and other sources of power would be explored to meet that need.

 

The heads of schools promised to cooperate with the governor to provide affordable education. Among those present at the meeting were the Vice Chancellor of the Taraba State University, Rector of the College of Education, Zing, College of Agriculture, College of Nursing and Midwifery, and College of Health and Technology, Takum. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education was also in attendance.

 

Dr Kefas's assurance to the school heads in Taraba State is a step in the right direction in the revamp of the education sector in the state. The governor is taking a proactive stance to address the issue of outstanding salaries, a challenge that has bedeviled the sector in the state.

 

His plan to directly tie the loans to projects promoting transparency and accountability is also worthy of commendation. This move will ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose and not siphoned.

 

The governor's intention to focus on agriculture and solid minerals to address the huge budget required to revamp education is a welcome development. This approach will not only generate more revenue for the state but will also create more job opportunities and boost the state's economy.

 

Furthermore, the governor's promise to explore the use of solar energy and other sources of power to address the energy crisis in schools is commendable. This move has the added advantage of being environmentally friendly, thereby aligning with global efforts towards green energy.