The Jigawa government has approved over N1 billion for foreign scholarships and school infrastructure development projects in the state.

The approval was announced in a statement by information commissioner Sagir Musa on Friday.

The State Executive Council (SEC) approved the projects during its meeting on Thursday.

Mr Musa said the SEC approved 534,372 dollars sequel to a memo presented by the ministry of higher education seeking payment of tuition, accommodation, application fees, and foreign students support services in respect of 184 indigent students transferred from Sudan to Near East University, Cyprus.

The commissioner said the SEC also approved N312 million for the payment of 12 months’ living allowances, visa, air tickets, and other logistics for travel arrangements of the affected students.

The commissioner said the SEC equally approved the N697.8 million counterpart fund for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). 

He said this would facilitate the construction of 156 new classrooms, renovation of 207 others, construction of 39 toilets, provision of 68 handpumps and boreholes, and supply of 14,016 sets of classroom furniture and perimeter fence in various schools across Jigawa.

Mr Musa said the council approved N73 million for hostels, senior staff quarters and library rehabilitation projects at two secondary schools.

He said the projects would also facilitate the procurement and installation of solar-powered pumps at Government Day Science Secondary School Hadejia and Kafin Hausa, respectively. 

(NAN)