Palliatives: Delta approves bursary for 30,000 students, equips state hospitals

Delta Government has approved the payment of N20,000 bursary each to about 30,000 students of the state origin in tertiary institutions across the country for the 2022/2023 academic session.

The state Commissioner for Information, DrIfeanyiOsuoza, who disclosed this to newsmen, said it was part of decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held at Asaba on Wednesday.

Osuoza said the government, having considered the current hardship, approved certain palliatives, including the Students’ Special Assistance Scheme, also known as Bursary, to alleviate students’ challenges.

He said the council also approved a redesigned contract work at the Enerhen flyover to meet the required specification and to create a serene environment around the project.

Osuosa said the government similarly approved the contract to equip 20 state hospitals to ensure adequate provision of healthcare services in the state.

The Commissioner for Works, (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the sum of N2 billion was approved as compensation to property owners on the right of way around the Enerhen flyover.

He noted that Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori approved the settlement of affected individuals to promote peace and to make it easy for the contractors to deliver the work according to specification.

Aniagwu said the governor’s intervention in the bursary scheme and the hospital equipment was part of his programmes and policies designed to alleviate the suffering of the people at this time.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. NyerovwoTonukari, said the process of students’ enrollment into the bursary scheme for the 2023/2024 academic session had started.

According to him, the over 30,000 students, who were enlisted to benefit in the 2022/2023 academic session, will receive N20,000 each.

Some, he said, had already started receiving theirs.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojame, said that most of the equipment approved for the hospitals had been procured, supplied, and being used to improve healthcare services at the hospitals.

He noted that the governor also approved the immediate replacement of personnel on account of the brain drain occasioned by health workers’ flights abroad.