The Kwara State Government is to subsidise the running cost of its university by N150 million, according to the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Mohammed Raji.

He told newsmen on Sunday in Ilorin that the gesture was as a result of government’s recent decision to bring some relief to the students by reducing their tuition fees from N150,000 to N99,000.

Raji said the gesture was part of measures to increase the enrolment of its indigenes into the institution.

He decried the low enrolment of Kwara indigenes in the institution, saying that of the more than 5,000 students population in the university, only 2,010 were indigenes.

The commissioner said government had also earmarked about N80 million for payment for NECO examinations of Senior Secondary School students.

He said that only N13 million had so far been released for the purpose, explaining that of the estimated 33,000 students who were expected to benefit from the gesture, only 3,100 met the required standard.

Raji warned principals and head teachers of primary schools who were still collecting fees under any guise from their pupils and students to desist from the illegal practice since tuition had become free in the state.

He appealed to NGOs and parents to continue to assist the government by contributing to the development of schools, through the provision of infrastructure and furniture. (NAN)