Ogun vows to sanction schools charging illegal fees, others

As schools across Ogun State resumed another academic session, the Ogun State government issued a warning on Monday to administrators and teachers to refrain from collecting illegal fees from parents and guardians of learners in both private and government-owned schools.

The government also cautioned authorities of private and public schools against making arbitrary changes to textbooks and school uniforms, stating that any school found culpable would be sanctioned.

It also charged the administrators and teachers, mainly in government-owned primary and secondary schools, to be punctual and to embed the spirit of discipline in the execution of their duties, urging them to display habits that pupils and students could emulate.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, stated this during the 2025/2026 academic session pre-resumption media engagement in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Arigbabu said that the Dapo-Abiodun-led administration could no longer tolerate the exploitation of parents by school heads and teachers through indiscriminate fees and textbooks, as the books could be passed to siblings within the year of review by the ministry. No two uniforms are allowed, except for sportswear.

He tasked them to show more passion towards ensuring the government’s aim to maintain the enviable standards of education and not jeopardise them.

The commissioner also cautioned principals of flagship secondary schools not to admit more than 60 learners in a classroom to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning, urging others to work cooperatively and effectively with their School Portal Administrators for efficient school management. 

Things have changed technologically, and you need to help yourself by ensuring a proper upgrade. Have checking ability, be firm, vigilant and develop native intelligence in dealing with the teachers”, he said.

“I am happy that teachers now understand better how to discipline learners in school, not in the usual way they’ve been doing it in the past; you should rather be a role model by displaying habits they can emulate,” he said

In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, DIG Olusola Subair (Rtd), led other security agencies to educate the schools’ heads on the need to secure their schools by being proactive, ensuring thorough patrol of their schools, making quick response to emergencies and supervising their teachers and learners against security breaches.

Speaking, Chairman, Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Apostle Abiodun Sanyaolu, and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) head, Evang. Olalekan Ifede, described teachers as life moulders and they must do it with passion, love and total commitment, not forgetting the commitment of the present administration to their welfare.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko, underscored that the Stakeholders’ Engagement was to inform Principals and Headteachers of the government’s expectations from them, urging them to listen to the Commissioner’s charge with rapt attention.

The State President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Mr. Adeyinka Adekoya, and the Chairperson of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) in Ogun State, Mrs. Folake Onabajo, thanked Abiodun for appointing a resourceful, passion-driven personality to steer the canoe of education in the state towards a successful future, promising additional support for government programmes.