The Gombe government has approved N417 million for payment of external examination fees for 21,988 final-year students of secondary school across the state.

Education commissioner Aishatu Maigari disclosed this at the end of the 29th session of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Thursday in Gombe.

She said the SEC, presided over by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, also approved the payment of scholarship allowances to 16,113 students.

The council, she said, approved N417 million for payment of WAEC, NABTEB and NBAIS examination fees.

Ms Maigari said the 21,988 students got 50 per cent and above in the mock examination conducted by the ministry.

According to her, the number represents 78.59 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the mock examination.

“A breakdown of it shows that for WAEC, we have registered 20,685 students. For NABTEB, we have sponsored 1,167, and for NBAIS, we have registered 136 students, which gives us a total of 21,988,” she explained.

The commissioner added, “This is a gesture worth considering. Since the inception of this administration, we have seen our WAEC results going higher where most of our students are getting minimum requirements of five credits in Mathematics and English.”

On bursary, Ms Maigari said the government paid N331 million to 16,113 students registered from the 2017 to 2022 academic session.

“The students have been verified; even the backlogs that have not been paid have been paid. The process is ongoing, and students are being verified,” stated the commissioner. “Those that have been duly verified have gotten their scholarship allowances.”

Information commissioner Meshack Lauco said the SEC approved N2.4 billion for the Gombe regional water supply scheme operation and maintenance for 2022 and 2023.

Mr Lauco disclosed that a contract to construct 550 housing units at N4.74 billion was awarded.

According to Mr Lauco, the project comprises 150 units of three-bedroom flats, 350 units of two-bedroom and 50 units of one-bedroom flats.

(NAN)