*Urges AG To Push For Increase Amid Rising Costs

Bulus Atsen, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Garki Branch, has expressed his disappointment with the N300,000 grant offered by the Bayelsa State Government to its students in the Nigerian Law School for the year 2024. Atsen described the amount as “abysmal” and “a far cry from realistic expectations.”

In his reaction, Atsen highlighted the stark contrast between Bayelsa State’s offer and the support provided by other states in the past. He cited the example of Plateau State, which, in 2008/2009, approved an upward review of the Law School bursary from N110,000 to N550,000 per student, despite the Law School fee being only N220,000 at the time.

Atsen expressed his concern that, despite the significant increase in inflation and the quadrupling of Law School fees over the past 15 years, an oil-producing state like Bayelsa, which receives a 13% derivation fund, would offer such a low amount. He suggested that if Bayelsa State had 500 students in the Nigerian Law School, which he noted is historically unlikely, a N500 million grant would be an average amount for the Government to offer, translating to N1 million per student.

The former NBA Garki Branch Chairman appealed to Governor Douye Diri to reconsider and review the approved Law School grant upwards. He also called on the Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, to advocate for an improved offer to the state’s students in the Nigerian Law School.

Atsen emphasised that the cost of studying in the Nigerian Law School requires the concerted support of State Governments across the Federation. He urged the Bayelsa State Government to recognise the importance of investing in the education and future of its aspiring legal professionals.

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