Subsidy Withdrawal: Bayero University Bails Out Workers With Bicycles, Soft Loans

By Ayodele Oni

As Government and organizations continue to deliberate on ways to bail out their staff from hardship occasioned by subsidy withdrawal on petrol, Bayero University Kano, (BUK), has rolled out palliative measures including purchase of bicycles, among others, for staff and students.

The Vice Chancellor of BUK, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas disclosed this during the  university’s 56th Congregation Meeting on Saturday.

The Vice Chancellor informed the staff of that fund has been allocated to University Cooperatives Committee to purchase food stuffs and distribute to staff on a non interest format payable in six months.

He said the university management has concluded arrangement with the BUK Microfinance Bank to provide non interest loan to staff to pay school fees of their children, assuring that the institution would take the burden of the interest.

He noted that the gesture would cushion the effect of increment of registration fees.

The Vice Chancellor added that staff can access soft loan at any time and will be revolving so that staff who face financial challenges can have money at any time they want.

On the issue of transportation, the Vice Chancellor said there is an arrangement with the Kano State government to provided buses that will transport students from specified destinations to the university campuses and take them back at affordable rates.

He said once finalized, Kanawa buses would start passing through the routes of BUK campuses.

For junior staff, the Vice Chancellor said the university is negotiating to purchase bicycles to help them cushion the effect of hike in transportation fare.

He said on many occasions, he witnessed staff trekking from Old Campus to New Campus, a distance of almost 10 kilometres.

Another palliative was waiving eight months house rent to staff occupying the university’s houses. He said those who paid during this period would be refunded.

Vehicles would be allocated to transport staff to and from the university. Specific times would be allotted for staff. This he said would address many challenges.