…Anti-Corruption: Bello Directs Commencement of ICPC Half Hour on Kogi Radio
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, has warned schools against any unauthorized charges on students, as schools at all levels reopen for academic activities in the State,
In a statement in Lokoja, Jones warned all heads of schools against charging any fees for the remaining two weeks to end Second Term except those students who did not pay their school fees before the Covid-19 outbreak.
”As schools reopen for academic activities in Kogi on Sept. 14, heads of primary and secondary schools in both private and public schools, are warned against charging any fees except those who didn’t pay their fees before the break”, he said.
According to Jones, the earlier directive by the state government was for schools to resume on Sept. 14, and use two weeks to tidy up the activities of the second term before resuming the third term on Sept. 28.
The commissioner restated that the modified Academic School Calendar in Kogi State, was for the third term to begin on Sept. 28, and end on Dec. 4, 2020.
He, therefore, reiterated that no school should charge any fees within the remaining two weeks to round up the second term activities, warning that any school found in breach of this directive would be severely sanctioned.
The commissioner further advised parents and guardians to report any erring schools for adequate sanctions.
He stressed that payment of the third term school fees should commence as from Sept. 28, when schools reopen for the third term activities.
The commissioner, however, enjoined all schools in the state to ensure they abide by the Covid-19 protocols as specified by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
”For further enquires and report of any erring school, please contact the Hon. Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry on the following lines: 0803 334 8992 and 08036173158”, he said.
Meanwhile the state government has directed the immediate Commencement of ICPC Half Hour on the State Broadcasting Corporation to widen sensitization against corruption in the State.
This was disclosed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo while receiving the Commissioner in charge of ICPC in the State in his Office.
Fanwo told the ICPC Commissioner that Governor Yahaya Bello has zero-tolerance for corruption since he came on board
He said, “The Governor is pleased that the ICPC is helping to strengthen our Anti-Corruption institutions in the State. It is always better and cheaper to prevent corruption from happening and that was why the Government has strengthened our Transparency Units in all Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals across the state.
“The present administration in the State will spare no act of corruption, hence, the need to work with anti-graft agencies to ensure preventive measures are put in place to stop corruption from happening.
“To this end, our State owned radio has been directed to flag off a programme that will help sensitize the people on the dangers of corruption and how to prevent corruption.
“Also, we shall be having our maiden Anti-Corruption Debate on December 9, 2020 which is the World Anti-Corruption Day as well as set up Anti-Corruption Clubs in our citadels of learning to ensure the generation-next of Kogites understand the evil that corruption represents”.
Earlier, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission head in the State, Barrister Chile Ogwuegbu said the Commission is interested in collaborating with the State Government to ensure that corruption tamed in the State, thanking the State Governor for his stance on issues of corruption.
