The immediate past State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Ogun Funmilayo Theresa, popularly known as OFT, has condemned the state government for running a deceptive free education system.
Funmi Ogun raised the allegation in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, by her Special Adviser on Media, Oladimeji Atenibiaje.
She alleged that “What Governor Biodun Oyebanji proclaimed as free education when he assumed office was a deceptive one, saying, ”as we speak, the primary and secondary schools are still charging obnoxious fees. Where is the free education they are talking about?”, Funmi Ogun asked.
The former Commissioner picked holes in the implementation of the policy, particularly the recent upward review of the Boarding Fees payable in secondary schools commencing from the 2024/2025 session.
The PDP governorship aspirant said any increase in tuition fees at this time when Nigerians are groaning in excruciating pain due to poor economic situation shows that the government was insensitive and impervious to the plight of the populace.
“In the circular by the Ekiti State Ministry of Education, the boarding fee was jacked up to N90,000, while the facility fee was pegged at N10,000 making a cumulative fee of N100,000 for students of secondary school to pay.
“This is rather insensitive. Some federal universities in Nigeria are not even paying above N100,000. How come a mere secondary school is being made to pay such a huge amount?
“This shows that the free education policy was a fluke and a deception that holds no water”, Funmi Ogun said in her accusation.
Funmi Ogun urged Governor Oyebanji to be truthful with the Ekiti people in the implementation of his free education policy.
“As a government, you can’t afford to be deceiving the people. People are paying and the government is flaunting free education all over the place. This is unacceptable”.
On the 2026 governorship election, the former PDP Scribe, said efforts are on to begin reconciliation and mobilisation within the party to galvanise support ahead of the coming election.
“The party just set up a caretaker committee that will be in charge for a while until democratically elected structures are put in place.
“The major agendas should be reconciliation and mobilisation to strengthen our party and make it acceptable to the electorate and this we will accomplish using every means”.
