Abia makes basic education free, compulsory
…Threatens to jail parents, guardians who fail to send their children, wards to school
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State government says education from primary One to Junior Seconday school level will now be free in the state, beginning from January 1, 2025.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who madethis known during a Press Briefing in Umuahia, said it has therefore become an offence for parents and guardians in the state not to send their children and wards to school from January 1, 2025., warning that defaaulters would be prosecuted.
The Commissioner told journalists in Government House, Umuahia, after Monday’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, that the issue of poverty would no longer be a reason for non-acquisition of free and basic education in the State.
According to him, the decision was part of the ongoing reforms in the educational sector of the state.
“”In line with the Abia State Child’s Rights Law 2006, it will now be an offence for parents not to send their children and wards to school in Abia State.
“Education is free in Abia State up till the end of Junior Secondary School. There is no reason whatsoever why parents will not send their children to school .
So, as from the first of January 2025 when this policy will fully come into effect, defaulting parents will be prosecuted under that law.
“This policy is in fulfilment of what the educational sector represents for this government. Recall that at the inception of this administration, a state of emergency was declared in the educational sector.” Prince Kanu stated.
He stressed the need for parents to take advantage of the tuition- free policy in the state to send their children and wards to school, warning that defaulting parents would be prosecuted in line with the Abia State Child’s Rights Law 2006.
The Commissioner reiterated that the relocation order of the Umuahia campus of Abia State University to the mother campus at Uturu remains irreversible.
“Government’s position about the order remains unshakable because the decision, in the first place, was taken in the over all interest and well-being of the university.
“The State Government will implement this policy to the letter. However, as a listening government that conducts state affairs with human face, all affected stakeholders will be fully engaged to enable the State government to allay their fears and anxieties, if any, about the relocation order,” Prince Kanu said.
The Commissioner said that Abia State government would leave its doors open for the Organized Labour in the State to engage in further discussions as it concerns issues of the newly implemented minimum wage.
“As a listening government, the State Government is also leaving its doors open for further engagements with the Organized Labour as the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state commences.
“Government believes that all the issues associated or arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage that requires further attention from government would be fully attended to.” Prince Kanu said.
He announced that the State Executive Council has granted approval for the award of contracts for reconstruction and rehabilitation of nine roads which were recently procured. He said the roads are scattered across the three senatorial zones of the State.
Prince Kanu said that the road construction was in furtherance of the road infrastructure agenda of the Otti-led administration.
“The key thing here is that the state government, under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, OFR has fulfilled another promise he made recently to Ndi Abia,” the Commissioner said, as he disclosed that Governor Otti has directed the state Commissioner for Works to ensure that the failing flyover at Osisioma is repaired without delay to safeguard the lives of Abians and other road users.
He recalled that the flyover which the previous administration regarded as a signature project has started failing only after two years it was commissioned.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, were present at the briefing.
