Kwara State Government has promised to pay all outstanding arrears of bursaries and scholarships to students in the state as soon as possible, blaming the financial crisis facing the nation for the delay.

Students under the aegis of National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) had on Wednesday this week protested against the non-payment of 2013 and 2014 bursary allowance totalling N235million.

Executive Secretary, Alhaji Fatai Lamidi of the board gave the assurance that the state government will resolve the problem as soon as the state is financially buoyant to do so.

He emphasized that the payment of bursary is a privilege, not the right of any student, adding that while state government is determined to alleviate the suffering of the affected students in tertiary institutions, it is also mindful of payment of outstanding salaries of civil servants and pensioners in the state.