Some student leaders in Rivers State are calling on Governor Siminialaye Fubara to extend the government’s free bus scheme to students.
The Director of Information at the University of Port Harcourt Students’ Union Government, Forum Fred, said it will reduce the economic impact of the recent petrol subsidy removal.
The Rivers State government introduced the scheme for civil servants but Fred said students also need it.
“Government should not center subsidy removal palliatives only to civil servants, the student community is a large community and as such should be prioritized,” he said.
“If students get buses that drive around university campuses, it will help address the increased cost of transportation and also cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal,” he added.
The SUG president of Rivers State University, Miracle Anaele, has also appealed to the state government to improve students’ welfare.
“Clearly, civil servants can provide themselves with resources that can cater for their transportation and other basics but students truly need welfare support,” said the SUG president.
“A lot of students are complaining about the hike in transport fares as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy,” he added.
“Extension of government free buses for Civil Servants to the student community will be a big relief.”
Governor Fubara had assured the Nigerian Labour Congress in the state of providing a good working environment and buses to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
He made the statement when the Rivers NLC leadership visited him at the State Government House on 20 June.
