Daud Olatunji
The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, has dismissed allegations that the state government owes the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The commissioner who spoke on Tuesday, clarified that parents have been paying to the examination fees through the schools, not the state government.
This response follows an exclusive report by PLATFORM TIMES, which claimed that some public school students in Ogun State had their WAEC results withheld due to unpaid fees.
Prof. Arigbabu, speaking on behalf of the government, emphasized that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun had cleared a debt of approximately N500 million inherited from the previous administration.
“The Ogun State government was responsible for paying WAEC fees before this administration came into power.
“However, in 2017, during a summit convened by the previous administration, it was collectively agreed that the government should no longer cover these costs,” Arigbabu explained.
“Upon assuming office, we cleared the N500 million debt within two years.
“Currently, parents now pay directly to their schools, and the schools, in turn, remit the fees to WAEC.
“ What the government covers are sundry expenses,” he added.
Prof. Arigbabu stressed that the state government has fulfilled its obligations by paying these sundry expenses, which are essential for the release of results.
“The sundry expenses we cover are crucial for the registration and release of results.
“ There has never been an issue of WAEC withholding results due to non-payment by the state government,” the commissioner reiterated.
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