Students of public primary and secondary schools in Ondo State will have to N100 and N150 naira daily per student as condition of enjoying the halted free shuttle buses programme in the state.
The proposed fare, will cater for to and fro of the every student that pays.
The free shuttle buses were introduced by former governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration in 2012 but were abandoned two years ago by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
This will be the second time that the Ondo State government would be announcing the return of the free shuttle buses without any success as news going the round that the school shuttle buses were sighted in Owerri, the Imo state capital.
The Special Adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Transport, Tobi Ogunleye who stated this while meeting with parents and stakeholders in Akure said arrangements were ongoing to ensure the shuttle buses commenced operation to aid transportation of students across the state.
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Ogunleye said government was determined to ensure that the scheme started operations.
He, however pointed out that the buses needed serious overhaul and general maintenance before they could start plying the roads.
The state Treasurer of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools ANCOPPS, Ondo State chapter, Taiwo Akinmoju and the state Administrative Secretary Parent Teacher Association, Sola Adunbi were at the meeting.
Also at the meeting was the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Tajudeen Balogun and the representative of the chairman National Council for Women Society, Yinka Oyedele.
Though representatives of the state government proposed N150 daily, stakeholders kicked against the proposal, saying the parents could not afford such on a daily basis.
The stakeholders at the meeting however resolved that students should be allowed to pay N100 daily to ease their transportation stress.
They also called for synergy among all stakeholders for the expected success of the scheme, commending the government for considering the plights of students in Ondo State.
