Ondo moves to regulate free school bus shuttle scheme

Ondo State Executive Council has forwarded a bill to regulate the activities of its free school shuttle bus scheme to the state House of Assembly for consideration.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, in a chat with newsmen in Akure, said the state executive sponsored the bill to ensure the sustainability of the programme, which kicked off in the state three years ago.

He said the scheme has been adjudged to be one of the best initiatives of the government to ensure the populace enjoy dividends of democracy.

Akinmade said the scheme was initiated to improve the transportation system of school children to and from school, and ensure that incessant risks faced daily by children who have to ride on motorcycles was reduced.

The bill tagged “Ondo State Free School Bus Shuttle Scheme” was forwarded for consideration following the decision of the executive council to legitimise the scheme, which has been running in all the 18 council areas.

The commissioner, who said the bill was also intended to provide legislative backing for the programme, ensure its sustainability and make it outlive the present administration, added that the gains of the scheme could not be quantified.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko had revealed that the mega school and free school bus shuttle initiatives were designed to bridge the gap between children of the rich and the poor in the state.