Ekiti PDP berates Fayemi for failure to pay students’ WAEC fees, secure release of results

Allegations unfounded, delay caused by body’s administrative error, says APC

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated Governor Kayode Fayemi for his failure to pay West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees of students who sat for the recently-released WASC results, thereby causing delay in the release of results of public schools in the state.

The state’s Publicity Secretary of the party, Raphael Adeyanju, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, wondered why a government that volunteered to sponsor students for WAEC would not accord the payment of fees a priority.

Adeyanju said the failure of the governor to pay up the money, a week after the release of the results, had caused parents and students tension and psychological trauma.

Head of Nigeria’s Office of WAEC, Patrick Areghan, had while announcing the results last week, said 10 debtor-states, including Ekiti, should not expect the release of the results of the candidates they sponsored for the examination unless they demonstrate serious commitment.

He warned that states sponsoring candidates for the examination must show commitment, willingness, readiness and ability to pay or redeem their debts.

Adeyanju said that it could be reasonably concluded that the Fayemi administration is paying lip service to the development of education.

He expressed surprise that while Borno State, among the indebted states, promptly paid up its debts to get the results of her students released, Ekiti State government appeared to be indifferent to the plight of the students.

The PDP, therefore, urged well-meaning Ekiti State elite, including Chief Afe Babalola, to quickly intervene and call the governor to order.

MEANWHILE, the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, has described the allegation as unfounded, saying that the delay was more of administrative reason than indebtedness.

Dipe said: “A right-thinking person should be able to investigate deeply to know the reason for the delay. If any governor will be indebted to WAEC, it is not likely to be Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

“You could all attest to the fact that he has been devoted to the development of education sector. So, the PDP should not politicise the issue of education.”