Non-Nigerlites under the auspices of Inter-Tribal Movement in Niger State on Thursday lamented the continuous marginalisation of non-indigenes by the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led administration in the area of education.
While raising alarm that their wards are unable to gain admission into the state’s tertiary institutions because they are termed non-indigenes, the Chairman of Turbaned Chiefs in Niger State, Eze Pampas Ngozi Wahiwe, decried the situation where parents have to pay for the WASSCE and NECO examination fees of their wards, which have never been done before in the state.
According to Wahiwe: “Unlike the previous administration where the NECO and WAEC fees were free, these days, we are mandated to pay the fees for our children and wards.
“Admission of our children and wards to the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai for two years have been very difficult, causing us to send them back home for the continuation of their education.”
Wahiwe however pleaded with the state government to extend a hand of fellowship to the inter tribal groups in the state by giving them a sense of belonging, adding: “What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
“We need your hand of fellowship, Mr. Governor.
“The hand of fellowship will give us the strength to continue to contribute our quota to the development of the state.”
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Solomon Nyaze, who represented Governor Sani Bello, assured that the issue of marginalisation of non-indigenes in the education sector would soon be addressed.
Nyaze said although every university has its own admission policies, with the local government chairmen having a large say, the government should find a way towards ensuring that a good ratio of admission be offered non-indigenes.
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