Fayemi Declares Free Education in Ekiti
Ado-Ekiti-The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has abolished the education development levy introduced by the government of Mr. Ayodele Fayose in all primary and secondary schools in the state.
Fayemi declared that education would henceforth be free in all public primary and secondary schools across the state, saying it was anomaly for school children to pay tax.
The highly controversial Education Development Levy was introduced by Fayose’s administration in 2015 and its payment was mandatory for students of public and private schools in the state.
Children at primary and secondary cadres were mandated to pay N500 and N1,000 per term respectively.
Children at primary and secondary cadres were mandated to pay N500 and N1,000 per term respectively. The governor wondered why underage children should be made to pay levies when their parents are already paying taxes.
Dr Fayemi noted that government would not add to the burden of the already traumatised parents as a result of the harsh economy and unpaid salaries inflicted by the last administration.
The new governor also used the occasion to appeal to Ekiti people to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying it is only the continuity of Buhari/Osinbajo government that could bring the realization of all projects promised by the federal government for Ekiti.
Speaking during a thank you visit to Ekiti South and North senatorial district headquarters, Ido and Ikere Ekiti on Wednesday, Fayemi 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.
“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 3 as part of the benefits we will get from the federal government”, he stated.
Culled from Vanguard newspaper
