Principals of Private and Public Schools in Kogi State have been enjoined to give necessary support and cooperation to the State Government towards getting the actual figures of students who sit for this year’s West African School Certificate Examination with a view to enable government make refund.
The Chairperson of the Committee on WAEC Reconciliation and verification, Hajia Mariam Ladi Ibrahim gave the indication while addressing Principals of Public and Private Schools from the Eastern Senatorial District at Ayingba in Dekina Local Government Area, on government plans to refund WAEC fees paid by students.
Hajia Ladi disclosed that the Committee set up by the State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, was not out to witch hunt any principal, but to make appropriate recommendation and verify claims that will enable government make refunds back to registered students.
She added that the issue of government paying outrageous amount as WAEC fees for students in the state have become a source of concern to government, said the payment geared towards assisting parents, was misplaced by certain persons, pointing out that government has graciously set up the committee to look into the actual number of students who have paid their WAEC fees with a view to making a refund.
Hajia Ladi described Governor Idris Wada as a listening governor who is ready to make education a priority, said the governor is committed to ensuring qualitative education in the State.
She appealed to principals in the various schools across the State to avoid the aiding and abating practice, saying that anyone caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law.
According to her, government will depend largely on the school principals to ascertain genuine payments, assured that the Committee would look into the recommendation made by the Nigerian Union of Teachers towards ensuring that the right thing is done in moving education forward in the State.
Also Speaking, a Member of the Committee, Chief Sylvester Onoja who is also the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, TSC, assured the Principals of the Committee’s readiness towards ensuring better service delivery, charged the principals to work hard in making the committee achieve excellent and reliable date from the various schools.
In a remarks, the AFCOSS President, Mr. Oguche Abraham, commended the State Government for setting up the Committee towards ensuring the re-fund of the WAEC fees paid by registered students, promised on behalf of the principals to ensure that a thorough job is done in their various schools.
Some other principals who spokes at the meeting expressed satisfaction to the State Government for the initiatives to assist the students, said it will go a long way in ameliorating their suffering.
