Ololade Adeyanju & NAN/
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has disclosed plans by his government to refund secondary school levies paid by parents under the immediate past administration in the state.
The governor disclosed this at the end of the State Executive Council Meeting today.
He said N28 million had been set aside for this purpose.
His words: “We are in the process of refunding N28 million to parents and guardians who paid for forms and other expenses in state-owned secondary schools under the previous administration.”
Makinde also disclosed that work had been completed on 40 out of the 100 public schools being renovated by the state government, while work on the remaining 60 had reached advance stages.
“At today’s EXCO meeting, we received updates from our Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology on the ongoing renovation of 100 state-owned schools. 40 have been completed, and 60 are at advanced stages of renovation and close to completion,” the governor said.
Speaking on other issues discussed at the meeting, he stated: “The distribution of exercise books and textbooks to students will commence on Monday, September 16, 2019, when schools resume.
“We are also taking stock of our teachers (Mainstream, NYSC, N-Power and PTA) and the subjects they teach to note the distribution so our intervention will be adequately targeted. The issue of running costs of schools is being addressed.
“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology website has been updated to include helplines so citizens can get in touch about governance issues on education.”
The governor also disclosed that the government was making effort to ensure that the state benefits from the United Nations’ Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD PLUS) Grant through the expansion of its forest reserves.
Speaking further on the issue, Mr. Kehinde Ayoola, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, said this informed the government’s decision to revoke the 26,000 hectares of forest reserve land allocated by the immediate past administration.
Besides, Ayoola said the allocation was illegal and not for agricultural purpose as claimed by the past administration.
According to him, the administration of ex-Governor Abiola Ajimobi “illegally allocated” 6,000 and another 20,000 hectares to individuals at Gambari in Oluyole Local Government Area and Opara in Oke Ogun area of the state.
“Their claim was that the allocations were for agricultural purposes, but you cannot see any farming or other agricultural activities going on in any of the areas now.
“It is very unfortunate that the administration that was supposed to preserve forests in the state to fight global warming was depleting them.
“It is ungodly for anybody to do anything that would reduce the size of our forests or to take such for themselves.
The present government will do everything to secure and protect its forest reserves and also take steps to expand its forest resources,” the commissioner said.