The Concerned Ondo state Youths for Good Governance (COYGG) has condemned the alleged failure of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to pay the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for students in Ondo state.
According to the group, this “inexcusable oversight” has left thousands of students in a state of uncertainty and anxiety, jeopardizing their academic future.
In a statement signed by its coordinator, Olawale Aladejana, the group described the situation as unfortunate and demanded immediate rectification.
The statement read, “We are appalled by the governor’s negligence and lack of commitment to the education of our children.
“The payment of WAEC fees for students in public secondary school has always been the responsibility of the state government , and the failure of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration to do so is a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the people.
It has been reported that WAEC wrote “INDEBTED” on the results of some students from Public secondary school students in Ondo State. This is due to the Ondo State Government’s alleged debt to WAEC, which has resulted in the withholding of results for affected students.
The debt is believed to be related to unpaid registration fees or other financial obligations owed by the state government to WAEC. As a result, WAEC has placed an “INDEBTED” status on the affected students’ results, pending the settlement of the debt.
Affected students and parents have been advised to contact the Ondo State Ministry of Education or WAEC for further guidance on resolving the issue.
“We demand that the governor takes immediate action to rectify the situation by paying the outstanding fees and ensuring timely payment in the future. We also call on the governor to take responsibility for the distress and uncertainty caused to the affected students.” the statement concluded.
Denying the claim, “The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olaolu Akindolire, while speaking with newsmen in Akure said as part of the administration’s commitment to easy the burden of parents, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has paid about Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira for 26,088 students that sat for the 2024 WASSCE Examination in the state public schools.
According to him, the Governor has also approved the balance payment of One Hundred and Fifty Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira for the 2024 WASSCE Registration fee for students in public Secondary schools.
On the challenge of students in accessing their WASSCE results, the Commissioner said the state government has taken it up with officials of WAEC, and the issues, which are basically logistics hitches, will be resolved soon.
The Commissioner added that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has also approved about Four Hundred Million Naira for the payment of Scholarship Awards and Bursary to students of the state origin in tertiary institutions across the country.
Also, as part of the State Government’s commitment towards improving the quality of education in the state, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa has approved massive recruitment of teachers into both primary and secondary schools in the state, and the recruitment exercise is presently ongoing.
Similarly, Mr Olaolu Akindolire said Governor Ayedatiwa has also approved massive infrastructural renovation and upgrade in public secondary schools across the state and the projects would commence anytime from now.
He also disclosed that the state government has also embarked on innovations aimed and adding value to education in the state through the creation of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department in the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to help the students develop their God-given talents that could make them self employed after leaving Secondary school.
Mr. Akindolire therefore urged the people of the state to cooperate and support the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to ensure the success of its programmes aimed at uplifting the education sector of the state.
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