The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has commended the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, over the 2019 budgetary allocation to the education sector.

NAUS Deputy Secretary General, Comrade Isioma Ogochukwu, gave the commendation in a statement on Tuesday in Benin City.

The Governor had on Monday presented a N175.7 billion budget proposal to the State House of Assembly.

The 2019 budget christened ‘Budget of Socio-Economic Inclusion’, saw N26.8 billion allocation to the education sector, representing 15.3 per cent of the total budget size.

Ogochukwu said the association considers the increase as a welcome development, while calling on the state government to ensure the monies are put into good use.

He said: “With the laudable increment in the budgetary allocation to education by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, we can now sound the alarm that we’ve got a government that loves education in Nigeria. NAUS considers this as a welcome development for the Nigerian education sector. We are, however, calling on the State Government to ensure total implementation of all the figures in the budget.”

The union leader hinted that a committee would be set up to closely monitor the budget, while calling on the state government to ensure subsequent budgetary allocation to the sector meets the UNESCO’s 26 per cent recommended benchmark.

“NAUS will set up a committee comprising of the CMC members in Edo State to closely monitor the budget and ensure that the 15.3 per cent allocation is fully implemented, and the monies put into good use.

“Much as we are happy over this development, we wish to call on the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the State Government to ensure that subsequent budgetary allocation to the sector meets the 26 per cent UNESCO recommended benchmark for education.

“This is needed owing to the inhumane increase in tuition fee in our public higher institutions across the country — due to poor funding of the sector, and the rate of decaying infrastructures in our campuses. Similarly, for Nigeria to join the comity of Nations in achieving the UNESCO’s 2030 agenda, there must be concerted efforts in increasing funding of education.”

Speaking further, Ogochukwu called on students across the country to remain law-abiding, while urging them not to succumb to any form of intimidation at any time.

“We call on our students studying in the over 500 campuses in Nigeria to remain law-abiding and report any form of harassment or undue treatment from management to NAUS leadership for action.

“The leadership will not fail to act, engage any government, school management or constituted authority who tries to play with the future of our dearly beloveth leaders of tomorrow. The welfare and security of our students remains a priority,” he said.

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