By Collins Dupson, 9th June
Amidst request by the stakeholders in Ondo State on return of School Shuttle Buses to the street, the State Government has given condition for the commencement of operation of the buses.
Speaking in a meeting on Monday, the Special Adviser to governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Transport, Tobi Ogunleye said arrangements were ongoing to ensure the shuttle buses commenced operation with proposed condition of paying between #100 and #150 naira daily per student.
Ogunleye said the N150 transport fare became necessary as the buses needed serious overhaul and general maintenance before they could start plying the roads.
His words: “The proposed fare, will cater for to and fro of the every student that pays. With the current economy reality of the state, government will need money to run the buses and maintenance”.
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.
In attendance are the state Treasurer of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools ANCOPPS, Ondo State chapter, Mr 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, Mr. Tajudeen Balogun and the representative of the chairman National Council for Women Society Mrs Yinka Oyedele.
Though representatives of the state government proposed #150 daily, stakeholders kicked against the proposal, saying the parents could not afford such on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, the Stakeholders at the meeting however resolved that students should be allowed to pay #100 daily to ease their transportation stress.
