The Taraba State government has declared education in all primary and secondary schools free.
The state governor Agbu Kefas made the declaration on Friday.
The decision is not unconnected to the recent removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol which has sent the cost of living through the roof.
The decision came barely 48 hours after announcing the reduction of university school fees by 50 per cent to cushion the current hardship in the country.
The government said the move is aimed at ameliorating the hardship occasioned by the removal of subsidy.
A statement by his Spokesperson, Emmanuel Bello, said Kefas made the declaration at the Ebenezer Primary School in Wukari as part of his assessment tour.
According to the governor, starting from the next academic session, primary and secondary education in Taraba State would be free.
The governor stressed that it was the government’s responsibility to bear the expenses and that students should not be subjected to any fees.
He said that apart from fulfilling a campaign promise, the hardship occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy has made the move imperative.
On Wednesday during his visit to the Taraba State University in Jalingo, Kefas announced the removal of school fees in the university, saying quality education remained his main priority.
Kefas said he had since declared a state of emergency in the education sector and was also committed to free education at the primary and secondary school levels.
Many of the University students were elated at the development, saying the reduction in fees would greatly enhance their lives.
“Some parents said the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy has made payments of school fees difficult. They said the slash has raised their hopes,” Bello had said
