The Chris Iyovwaye Campaign Organisation has urged the Delta State Government to increase individual bursary payments to students to N100,000, citing rising tuition fees and other education-related expenses.
The organisation also called for a review of the Students Special Assistance Scheme, demanding greater transparency in the administration of the programme and disclosure of the amounts paid to beneficiaries.
The Director-General of the organisation, Dr Alfred Mulade, made the demands in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s award of a N50m educational support fund to Miss Ogheneovo Davina of Model Technical College, Oghareki.
While congratulating Davina on her achievement, the organisation commended the governor for recognising her efforts but said the gesture should also prompt a broader review of educational assistance available to students across the state.
It said thousands of students were struggling with rising tuition fees, accommodation costs, transportation and other expenses associated with their education.
According to the organisation, although the Students Special Assistance Scheme remains an important intervention, concerns have been raised over the adequacy of individual bursary payments, with reports indicating that some beneficiaries receive as little as N19,500.
The statement read, “The state government should clarify the current amount payable to each beneficiary, disclose when the payment was last reviewed and explain how the scheme addresses prevailing economic realities.
“We are also concerned about the N800 non-refundable processing fee charged to students applying for financial assistance. The government should explain the rationale for the fee and consider waiving it.”
Mulade cited the state’s proposed 2026 budget, which earmarked N850m for the scheme, compared with N750m approved for 2025, saying the allocations made it necessary to clarify how much reached individual beneficiaries.
It called for the publication of annual beneficiary figures, actual disbursements, individual award amounts and the history of adjustments to the scheme.
The organisation further urged the government to conduct a transparent review of the bursary programme and develop a realistic funding and implementation plan to support any increase in payments.
“Recognising individual excellence and providing broad-based educational support are not competing responsibilities. Both are important,” the statement read.
It added that while Davina deserved recognition for her achievement, other students in the state also deserved a transparent, accessible and sustainable system of educational assistance.
The organisation said consistent investment in education and policies that reflected the financial realities facing students and their families were essential to the state’s future.