In a bid to cushion the impact of skyrocketing transportation costs triggered by Nigeria’s economic downturn, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has launched a Bicycle Loan Scheme for its junior staff. The initiative, aimed at providing a sustainable and affordable means of mobility, underscores the growing financial hardship faced by Nigerian workers, particularly in the education sector.
The university, established over 50 years ago, made the announcement in a statement on its official website on Thursday, highlighting its commitment to staff welfare in the face of rising inflation and worsening economic conditions.
According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, presided over the distribution of the second batch of bicycles under the university’s welfare scheme. The event, which took place on campus, was attended by the Chairman of the Bicycle Loan Committee, Professor Mahmoud Umar Sani, and other senior university officials.
“This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to support our junior staff by providing them with cost-effective transportation alternatives,” Professor Abbas stated during the event. “The university is committed to easing the financial burden on our workforce and enhancing their efficiency at work.”
The scheme, which operates as an interest-free loan, allows staff to acquire bicycles through a structured repayment plan. The Vice-Chancellor assured beneficiaries that deductions for the new batch of bicycles would only commence after the Sallah festival, giving them financial breathing space to cater to Ramadhan fasting and Eid celebrations before repayments begin.
The initiative has been widely praised by beneficiaries, who described it as a timely intervention amid escalating transportation costs. Many workers, who previously struggled to afford daily transport fares due to the surge in fuel prices, expressed gratitude to the university management.
“This is a lifesaver. With the cost of transportation rising every day, this bicycle will make commuting to work much easier and cheaper,” one of the beneficiaries remarked.
With the latest distribution of 47 bicycles, the total number of bicycles provided under the scheme has now reached 147, following the initial batch of 100 bicycles.
The move by Bayero University comes at a time when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has repeatedly condemned the Nigerian government’s neglect of tertiary education workers. ASUU leaders have decried poor wages, lack of funding, and worsening welfare conditions, urging authorities to implement urgent reforms.
The hardship faced by university workers has been exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies, which has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices, transportation costs, and food inflation.
With Nigeria’s inflation hitting record highs, many workers—including those in higher institutions—continue to struggle to make ends meet. The introduction of bicycles as a survival measure at a leading university highlights the severity of the country’s economic crisis and the desperate search for solutions amid government inaction.
As frustration mounts across various sectors, the call for sustainable economic policies and improved workers’ welfare grows louder. Until then, initiatives like BUK’s Bicycle Loan Scheme remain a stark reflection of the daily struggles endured by the average Nigerian worker.
PIONEER NEWS 