Abia State Governor Alex Otti has declared an end to all payments, including PTA levies, in public primary and secondary schools.
In his New Year address, Otti emphasized his administration’s commitment to education, saying, “We have stopped all forms of payments in the primary and secondary schools. Not even PTA levies should be charged to any parent or guardian in any public school in the state.”
To ensure schools function effectively, Otti announced a new financial system, stating, “We have introduced an imprest account system for the running of schools. Headteachers and school principals are now entitled to specific sums every month for managing the day-to-day operations of their schools. There is therefore no excuse to extort or deny any child the opportunities that come with learning and enlightenment. We shall be strict with enforcement, and it will be a grievous mistake to test our will.”
The governor outlined his administration’s broader 2025 development agenda, pledging to prioritize the needs of vulnerable citizens and allocate 35% of the state’s budget to education and health. “We shall fast-track efforts to remake our schools into centres of excellence in effective teaching and learning. The law mandating all children of school age to be in school every school day comes into effect from today. As soon as the new school term begins later in the month, it will be unlawful to find any child outside the walls of the classroom during school hours,” he said.
Otti also highlighted plans to improve public safety and economic growth. “We shall not hesitate to deploy the full might of the government against any individual or group whose activities pose a threat to the safety of our people,” he warned, adding, “We shall do everything in our power to reposition the state to become irresistibly attractive to those seeking to expand to new territories or cut costs by taking advantage of the boundless opportunities the state offers.”
He concluded by pledging greater attention to the agricultural sector and enhancing the state’s investor-friendly environment in the new year.
