Abia Govt Moves to Stop Illegal Fee Collection in Schools

The Abia State Government has taken significant steps to curb the alleged extortion of pupils by schools across the state by approving funds for running costs for heads of schools in both primary and secondary institutions.

This decision, made by the state’s Ministry of Education, aims to ease the financial burden on school heads, preventing the illegal collection of fees from pupils.

Speaking at the Government House in Umuahia after this week’s State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, announced the new measure. According to Kanu, the state government’s decision to provide running costs aligns with its broader education reform efforts aimed at ending the practice of illegal fee collection.

Kanu explained that previously, some schools might have resorted to collecting unauthorized fees due to pressure faced by school administrators. “The state government has acted to ensure this becomes a thing of the past by providing necessary funds to heads of schools,” he said.

In addition to the reforms in the education sector, Kanu highlighted the government’s success in completing 124 road projects as part of its zero-pothole initiative, primarily focusing on Aba and Umuahia. The initiative is aimed at enhancing road infrastructure across the state.

Kanu further urged owners of commercial vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles to comply with the state’s ongoing registration process, which is aimed at improving security. This process is part of the government’s effort to ensure that all commercial vehicle operators in the state are properly identified and registered.

Supporting this, Uzor Azubuike, the Chairman of the Abia State Unified Task Force and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, emphasized that the registration policy will assist security agencies in identifying commercial vehicle owners, thereby enhancing safety and security in Abia.