FOSSU NATIONAL GIVES MAKINDE 14-DAYS ULTIMATUM TO GIVE MODALITIES TO STUDENT BURSARIES

FOSSU NATIONAL GIVES MAKINDE 14DAYS ULTIMATUM TO GIVE MODALITIES FOR BURSARIES PAYMENT

The National Council of the Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU) has given Governor Makinde led administration an ultimatum of 14days to announce modalities for which Oyo Sttae Students’ bursary will be paid.

This is contained in a statement made available to OYOMIND.COM.NG by the leaders of the Union, Com. Azeez Muritala Oluwasegun Olowoeko and Ajadi Isaac Oluwasegun who are National President and Senate President respectively.

The National President, Olowoeko at the joint executive and senate principal officials meeting noted that Bursary which has been the major dividends of democracy enjoyed by students was last received eight (8) years ago.

According to him, “FOSSU had her Third Senate sitting on Tuesday 4th of August, 2020 in Oyo where all Senators (chapter president and Secretaries of all institutions across the country) expressed the need for the Union to put more pressure on the state government on the imminent need for the payment of student bursary across the state.

“The leadership of FOSSU National held a meeting with the Commissioner for Education, including heads of scholarship and bursary board earlier this year to be informed of the plan of the administration on bursary payment and modalities for which it would be paid.

“Also, it should be recalled that the FOSSU National Council has submitted several letters requesting for an update on bursary payment, a repair of Union bus, FOSSU National Secretariat among others but none of which have been gratified any response by the state government. Hence, some members of the federation now fear that there’s really no plan for the disbursement of student bursary.

“Consequent upon this, FOSSU, being the largest indigenous association in Oyo state that houses over 487, 000 students unanimously sounds the voice of Oyo state Students to the hearing of the state government, led by His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde.

“It is in furtherance of this objective that the Union (FOSSU) now issues a 14 days ultimatum to Oyo state government starting on 13th of August to 27th of August, 2020 to address this issue.

“The Union staunchly believes that the government has a role to play in providing enabling learning environment, and providing education for its youths at fairly subsidized rate through the instrument of bursary and scholarship to the STUDENTS constituency.

“The council also recalls that Engineer Seyi Makinde has, during the electioneering process promised Oyo state students bursary in every year of his administration, if elected. However, to the dismay of the council, 15 months have now passed and nothing has been said or done to fulfill this worthwhile promise.

“The union (FOSSU) remains a pressure group that cannot be undermined in Oyo state. For it is the foremost and indigenous students association in the state and the supposed conduit pipe of interaction between students, the government, and the entire Oyo state citizenry.

“The cordial relationship held by the council and the state government over the years has in recent times suffered great setback because of the series of letters being sent by the Union to the state government but are yet to be responded to.

“Conclusively, the Union is committed to the above ultimatum and the leadership of the union would not hesitate to mobilise a mass protest if the state government persist in the its, numb silence and complicit attitude to their plight.”