…..targets school dropouts, pledges healthcare assessment across 255 wards

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Hon. Usman Shehu Bawa (ABG), has proposed a 50 per cent tuition reduction for state indigenes at Kaduna State University (KASU), alongside measures to reduce the financial burden of education and tackle school dropouts.

Bawa made the proposals while responding to questions at The Agenda, a one-on-one policy dialogue with governorship candidates organised by civil society actors ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the proposed tuition reduction would apply if his administration could not achieve fully tuition-free tertiary education, adding that admission costs would also be reviewed to make higher education more affordable.

The candidate estimated that between 70 and 80 per cent of children who drop out of school do so because their parents or guardians cannot afford the costs.

He proposed considering more affordable secondary education and financial incentives to encourage school attendance.

On healthcare, Bawa proposed assessing primary healthcare centres across Kaduna State’s 255 wards to identify gaps in staffing, equipment and infrastructure.

He also described security as his foremost priority, advocating stronger community-based intelligence gathering and collaboration with traditional rulers and community leaders.

Bawa further proposed low-interest loans for young entrepreneurs, improved revenue collection and greater investment in agriculture and solid minerals to expand economic opportunities.

One of the conveners of The Agenda, Lawrence Obeweh, said the platform was established to move political conversations beyond party rhetoric and campaign songs to focus on practical development issues.

He said the initiative, which engaged at least six governorship candidates during the 2023 election cycle, was being sustained to enable citizens and civil society organisations to scrutinise candidates’ plans for Kaduna State.

Bawa invited civil society organisations and technical experts to submit recommendations for consideration in his draft manifesto.