Residents of Kogi State have countered claims by the Kogi State Government that citizens of the state are enjoying the free education policy of the state government.

Residents also laments poor welfare service for Secondary and Primary school teachers in Kogi, just as they decried the shortage of manpower in all public schools across Kogi State.

In an open letter to Alhaji Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi state, by Comr. Olorunhudo Samuel Taiwo,
Political Advocate and Social Media Commentator/Strategist earlier in the week, the concerned citizens said there are growing public concerns over free education claims by the state governor.

According to Comrade Taiwo, “The Kogi State free education policy is not effective as parents are forced to pay unknown fees to the government under the guise of free education.

Taiwo said, “The state government told its people that primary and secondary education is free in the state, yet the same government charged poor parents in public schools to pay maintenance fees, which is equivalent to the school fees they used to pay.

Meanwhile, primary and secondary school teachers across the state have come out to remind the state governor that the inability of the government to pay them arrears of their special allowances is discouraging them from delivering quality education to their students and pupils.

The teachers under their union known as the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) the continuous delay in payment of their allowance is affecting effective teaching and learning in the state.

Chairman of the union, Comrade Emejeh Ogwu Sunday, said in Lokoja on Thursday that the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Special Allowance was agreed upon through a valid Collective Bargaining Agreement to recognize the unique demands of teaching.

Comrade Sunday said, He said, “The restoration of the suspended teachers’ allowance will greatly improve teachers’ morale and further demonstrate Government’s commitment to quality education.”

The union warned that continued denial of the incentive risks weakening teacher motivation at a time when the sector needs stability the most.

Similarly, Comrade Taiwo on his open letter said the Kogi State Government’s free education policy has yet to achieve its full purpose because parents and guardians are still required to pay compulsory maintenance fees in public schools.

He stressed that the continued collection of such fees raises serious concerns about the practical implementation and effectiveness of the policy, saying, “students are often required to pay maintenance fees before they can fully participate in school activities, adding that in many schools the amount charged is almost equivalent to the former school fees.

According to him, “replacing school fees with maintenance fees does not significantly reduce the financial burden on parents. Instead, it merely changes the name of the payment while families continue to bear nearly the same cost of sending their children to public schools.

He further explained that the essence of any free education policy is to eliminate financial barriers and provide every child with equal access to quality education. However, he maintained that where compulsory maintenance fees remain in place, many low-income families continue to struggle, thereby limiting the intended impact of the programme.

Taiwo expressed concern that numerous parents with multiple children in public schools still find it difficult to meet these financial obligations despite the government’s declaration of free education. He warned that such challenges could discourage school enrollment and increase the risk of some children being denied uninterrupted access to education.

He therefore called on the Kogi State Government and relevant education authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of the free education policy. According to him, greater transparency is needed regarding the collection and utilization of maintenance fees, while measures should be put in place to ensure that no child is denied quality education because of financial constraints.

Taiwo further stated that if the Kogi State Government genuinely intends to sustain a free education policy, it should assume full responsibility for the maintenance of public schools and provide adequate funding for all the logistics, infrastructure, instructional materials, utilities, and operational needs required to keep schools running effectively and efficiently.

On the side of the aggrieved teachers who made their grievances known in a communique at the end of the state executive council of the union in Lokoja on Thursday, the union also reminded the state government of the payment of their gratuity. The union said, “ASUSS acknowledged government efforts to clear outstanding liabilities but appealed for a review of the current payment pattern. It noted that retirees deserve more substantial and regular payments to cushion the effects of retirement.

The union lamented the acute shortage of teachers in public secondary schools, saying the increasing workload on available personnel is already affecting effective teaching and learning.

To address this, ASUSS called for the immediate recruitment of qualified teachers to fill existing vacancies.

It also proposed a motorcycle loan scheme for teachers posted to rural communities to ease transportation challenges and improve productivity.