•••Students want bursary, other critical issues discussed
•••That’s not true – SSA Students Ayantunji
Tertiary Institutions students under the aegis of National Association of Osun State Students are currently grumbling over the lack of attention from the Gboyega Oyetola-led state government.
The students according to information gathered by InsightMedia are lamenting the unpreparedness of the state government to pay their bursary since the inception of the current administration.
According to some of them who spoke with our correspondent, “despite not being catered for, all attempt to hold a meeting with the state governor remains unproductive.”
Speaking with our Correspondent, President of the NAOSS, Teslim Salahudeen described the plight of Osun State Students as a “very pathetic one”, stating that all means of getting the attention of the state government on critical issues failed.
He said the issue of bursary for students has not been discussed, stating that the last administration only paid it in 2012 and since then no one is talking about it again. He added that the effect of COVID-19 on students is the reason for renewed agitation from members of the association.
“I have been the president of this association since January, about eleven months. Since then, my colleagues and I have been trying all my possible best to call the attention of the governor to some critical matters, but all efforts failed,” Salahudeen said.
“The state government has not talked about bursary and we believe that as we are moving to 2021, the government should look into that considering the great effect COVID-19 has on every members of this association. We have written seven letters to the governor and none has been responded to, who knows if he sees none.
“This is the situation we have found ourselves and our members may storm the street if this continues. The pressure on us as leaders of the association is becoming to intense and if our members decide to ventilate their grievances, we may have no choice.
“As someone who believes in Mr Governor, I’m using this medium to call on him to grant the students of the state audience. We’re an important part of the state and we deserve to also sit with him on critical matters that affect us.”
When asked if the association has not met with any government officials before, Salahudeen said “yes, we have held meetings with delegates of the government, even with the Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi. But none has been productive as expected. Our meeting with the Deputy Governor was in March but all the points raised then still remain unattended to.”
In his reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oyetola on students’ matters and social mobilization, Kehinde Ayantunji said students welfare is one of the priorities of the state government.
He said since his assumption of office, he has created a mutual relationship with the students community.
“It’s not true that they don’t have the attention of Mr Governor. My office and the office of the National leadership of NAOSS are meeting on daily basis. We have been able to resolve the lack of attention from local government levels and all Indigenous association have been taken care of by local government adminstration. That happened few weeks ago.
“Also, the NAOSS has met with the Deputy Governor in the past, I led them there. They have also been met with powerful delegation of the government led by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, Abdullahi Binuyo. We’re currently working on how they will meet with the governor. The current situation across the country is what is causing the delay and it would be resolved soon.
“The issue of bursary has been suspended for years. Even before this administration. We’re trying to resolve it and the leadership of the association will be brought to table to discuss the feasibility.
When asked if the bursary is included in the N10bn allocation for education in 2021 budget, the SSA said, “I can’t ascertain that because the allocation is for all levels of education in the State.”
