Fayemi Abolishes Educational Levies In Ekiti Primary, Secondary Schools
The newly sworn-in Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday abolished educational development levy in all primary and secondary schools in the state.
In effect, Fayemi has abrogated the educational development levy introduced by the immediate past Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose in public schools in the state in September, 2015.
Public secondary and primary school students in the state had since been paying N500 and N1000 respectively into the coffers of the state government.
This was aside the examination, PTA and extra lessons fee being paid by the pupils.
The introduction of the levy, it would be recalled was part of the resolution of the education summit held in the state over three years ago.
Fayemi made the announcement on Wednesday during a Town Hall meeting with the people of Ekiti South Senatorial District in the state, held at the Ereja park in Ikere Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere local government area of the state.
Similar meeting was earlier held in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ido-Osi local government area of the state as part of activities lined up for the inauguration of the governor and his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.
Fayemi who maintained that education would henceforth be free in all public primary and secondary schools across the state, said it was an aberration for school children to pay tax.
He appealed to the people of the state to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying it is only the continuity of Buhari/Osinbajo government that could guaranteed more projects from the federal government for Ekiti and the completion of the ongoing ones.
He said: “Education is now free up to the secondary cadre in Ekiti State. Our children would no longer pay tax in both public and private schools.
“We can’t be owing their parents backlog of salary arrears and impose levies and taxes on their children and wards.
“When we were in government before 2010 and 2014, we ran free education until when the last administration came and said school children should pay tax.
“By the grace of God, by December this year, we are also going to introduce school feeding from primary to Junior Secondary as part of the benefits we will get from the federal government”, he stated.
On the 2019 elections, Fayemi said the only way the promised made by President Buhari to extend rail line to Ekiti, dualise Ado-Akure road and do other projects is by allowing this government to continue beyond 2019.
“That is why I am begging our candidates to reach out to other contestants for the State and National Assembly contests and reconcile with them. They should also meet all the leaders, because no governor can come from the government house and install all these candidates without the supports of the party people.
“We must not allow cracks in our party, we must be united. Whoever thinks he could fight the leaders and other contestants and still win election is wasting his time, he had already heard the result of the election.
“We also ensure that our party wins all the three senatorial seats, six House of Representatives seats and the 26 state house of assembly seats to make the work easier.
“Don’t let us de-market our party, All Progressives Congress (APC) by our comments. We must be united the way we were for the July 14 election. I want you to learn from me, after the governorship primary, which I won, I immediately embarked on fence-mending mission to all aspirants, this is how it should be.’
“President Buhari has promised Ekiti a lot of goodies and the only way Ekiti can benefit is for us to win Ekiti for him”, he advised.
He said he had been receiving deluge of text messages from party members barely 24 hours he assumed office, asking when appointments will be made.
“They have started pestering me for appointments, I have been receiving messages to this effect where party people were asking me when would the caretaker be set up in all the local governments. Our elderly people are also asking when will the N5,000 social security scheme starts.
