Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has placed a ban on illegal fee collections in all primary and secondary schools owned by the state government.
The governor’s directive was the subject of a circular released on Tuesday by the Head of Service of Oyo State, Amidat Agboola, which was directed to permanent secretaries, and heads of education-related agencies.
A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, said Mr. Makinde had, during his inaugural speech on May 29, directed all forms of payment in public schools to cease with immediate effect.
“Therefore, collection of fees/levies in all Public Primary and Secondary Schools, including Technical Colleges across the State is hereby prohibited.
“I am to emphasize that collection of fees under any guise in Public Schools across the State remains illegal, and any violator of this directive will be treated as a saboteur; heavy sanction awaits violators of this directive,” the circular said.
The directive has been made available to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Permanent Secretary (TESCOM); Permanent Secretaries (School Administration); Executive Secretary, State Universal Education Board (SUBEB); Executive Secretary, Board of Technical and Vocational Education (BOTAVED).
Others are the zonal inspectors of education; local inspectors of education, principals, and head teachers of public schools.