Fri, 20/01/2012 - 5:00am | PATRICK OCHOGA News Politics



The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday announced measures to cushion the effect of the fuel price hike.

Oshiomhole,  in a state broadcast in Benin City,  acknowledged the immediate hardship caused by the rise in the price of petrol, and said that among the measures the state government was adopting included the  abolition of all forms of levies in all public primary and secondary schools, including PTA levies, in addition to sustaining the governmen’s  policy on education.

He also announced that  the state-owned Ambrose Alli University is  to enjoy a reduction of N15,000 in school fees across board and N5,000 for part-time undergraduate students, and said that the total value will be paid to the university in addition to the N210 million monthly subvention to the institution.

“My Administration has abolished all fees and levies, including PTA levies, in all public senior secondary schools for both natives  and residents.  We will in addition sustain our existing policy of absolutely free and compulsory education at the primary and junior secondary school levels.

“I have directed the authorities of the Ambrose Ali University to reduce fees by N15,000 for each regular undergraduate student irrespective of state of origin.  In the same vein, I have directed a N5,000 reduction in fees for each part-time student. The total value of this reduction will be paid to the University by the Edo State Government en bloc in addition to the N210 monthly subvention. This effectively means that the AAU will not suffer any loss of revenue,” the governor said.

Acccording to him, in addition to the  existing free ante-natal care and delivery they will be “free treatment for children under the age of five. I have decided to introduce free medical treatment for pensioners and senior citizens, natives and non-natives who are resident in Edo State,  who are 70 years and above in all State Government hospitals.”