Nigeria, October 07, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – 

The Delta State Government has approved 400 million naira for the state Students Assistance Scheme [Bursary] for about 32, 000 verified students for the 2013/2014 academic year just as it promised to clean up the scheme of all shady and fraudulent practices

Briefing the press after the Executive Council Meeting [EXCO] which took place at Government House, Asaba on Tuesday, October 06, 2015, the Commissioners for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah; that of Higher Education, Engr. Jude Sinebe and the Executive Secretary, Scholarship Board, Mr. Elijah Ologe said EXCO approved the revalidation of the approval of 400 million naira for the payment of 2013/2014 bursary award to 31,859 verified students of the state origin in higher institutions after a verification of the list by the Scholarship Board stating that the verification and biometric exercise was ongoing and subsequent payments would be based on the verified and realistic figure of students obtained by the Scholarship Board.

They explained that the verification exercise has brought down the number of beneficiaries to 31,859 from over 40,000 asserting that the verification and biometric exercise was ongoing.

The Commissioners also disclosed that the state government would blacklist students and institutions involved in sharp practices and shady deals in the Student Special Assistance Scheme [Bursary] and urged the National Association of Delta State Students [NADESSTU] to cooperate with government in the verification exercise to rid the scheme of sharp practices..

The Commissioners stated that EXCO has approved the setting up of Internal Displaced Persons [IDPs] camps across the state to cater for those relocating from the flood impacted communities and announced that the state has witnessed its first casualty from the flood in Okpai community.

They informed the journalists that the state flood committee was working assiduously to ensure that those areas already impacted were relocated to higher grounds and IDP camps to avoid further casualties stating that the first verified casualty occurred in Okpai on Monday [5-10-15] where an 11 years old boy got drowned.

Commissioner for Information, Mr, Patrick Ukah specifically explained that presently Ndokwa East, Oshimili South, Ughelli South, Patani and Bomadi Local Government Areas have been impacted by the flood and appealed to the people of these areas to relocate immediately to the IDP Camps already opened, while other areas were being watched.

“Certain areas of the state have submerged by the flood, and Internal Displaced Persons camps have been opened in Ashaka and Utagba-Ogbe [Kwale] for people from Ndokwa East; Asaba Stadium for people from Oshimili South especially Oko communities and Infant Jesus areas, camps have also been opened in Ughelli and Bomadi, we need to continue to sensitise our people on the need to relocate early from flood prone areas to avoid disaster. I want to assure that everything needed at the camps have been provided and security agencies and other non-governmental organisations are on hand to handle issues at the camps, also more camps will be opened in areas impacted as the need arises”, Mr. Ukah said.

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