The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC), under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has approved N580 million for the payment of 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for over 20,000 students across the state.
The approval was announced by the Commissioner of Information, Culture, and Ethical Orientation, Hon. Mijinyawa Ardo Tilde, during a press briefing following the 45th Executive Council meeting held on Monday at the Government House, Gombe.
Providing further details, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Umar Maigari, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting students by funding SSCE registration fees since 2019 to ease the financial burden on parents and ensure access to quality education.
“Today, at the council meeting, approval was granted for the payment of registration fees for 20,477 students across the state. This includes 18,723 indigent students for WAEC, 110 students under the Exchange Programme Officer, 58 students from Special Schools, 1,368 students for NABTEB, and **219 students from Arabic colleges for NBAIS,” she stated.
The total amount approved is N580,870,900, which will be jointly funded by the state and local governments. Prof. Maigari also noted that before Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration, only 23% of students obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics, in SSCE. However, due to consistent educational reforms, this figure has increased to 70%.
In a related development, the council approved a new sanitation roadmap to improve hygiene and environmental standards in schools and healthcare facilities across the state.
Prof. Maigari emphasized that the initiative would ensure regular sanitation exercises in public institutions, complementing the monthly statewide sanitation program observed on the last Saturday of every month.
To oversee the implementation, the council approved the formation of a supervisory committee with the following members:
Commissioner of Environment, Water, and Forest Resources (Chairman),
Commissioner for Education,
Commissioner of Health.
The committee is mandated to monitor and enforce sanitation compliance in schools, healthcare centers, and government offices.
N530m Approved for Furniture Procurement at Sharia Court of Appeal
Additionally, the Commissioner of Works, Housing, and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama Kallamu, announced the council’s approval of N530,770,128 for the procurement of furniture for the newly completed Sharia Court of Appeal in Gombe.
He stated that the move was aimed at equipping the facility for immediate use and ensuring efficient judicial operations in the state.
