Adoke Pays WAEC Fees for Students in Kogi Central

By Ismail M. Kabir

Muhammed Adoke (SAN)

The Attorney General of the federation, Hon. Muhammed Adoke (SAN) has promised to pay the WAEC fees of Secondary school students  in Kogi central currently preparing for their final exams. He made the declaration at the PDP stakeholders meeting recently held at the FCE Okene.

Adoke made the promise in response to the plea from parents who besieged the venue of the programme to solicit the support of the Justice Minister following the announcement by the Kogi state governor, Capt. Idris Wada that the state government would not be able to pay for the students this year.

The state government has been responsible for the payment of the WAEC fees for the students across the state.

Governor Wada has earlier stated that the state government could no longer bear the huge cost of the examination fee which according to the governor has been inflated by the officials from the state ministry of education from its former sum of about two hundred and thirty million to a whooping five hundred million naira. The inflated some, the governor noted, was beyond the capacity of the state government in view of other developmental projects needed to be executed across the state.

Reacting to the announcement which came as a shock to the students and their parents, aggrieved students in Ebiraland embarked on a protest and headed to the palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Ibrahim to register their grievances. Some misguided students eventually went berserk; vandalizing motor vehicles and engaging in other public disturbance until the police were called in to disperse the protesters, leading to the arrest of some of the students.

As the deadline for the WAEC registration closes in, some school principals sent out request to civil society organizations within Ebiraland to assist the students especially the indigent ones in paying their fees to enable them graduate from college.

Groups like Proudly Anebira forum, Danjuma Eye Foundation and Anebira Kaneri development foundation have commenced fund raising for some of the students before the respite from Honourable Muhammed Adoke came in.

Minister fulfils promise

In our recent chat with Dr. Halima Salihu (aka Big Mama), the general manager of Tao FM, the Hon. Minister was said to have released fund for the payment of the exam fees as promised and payment to the schools has commenced.

While interacting with members of Proudly Anebira forum, Dr. Halima said “Adoke has filfilled his pledge at the PDP Stakeholders forum. The money has been released through Hajia Ladi Ibrahim for disbursement to the students”.

Dr. Halima also noted that the disbursement has commenced since Wednesday January 29th as representative of the benefiting schools received cheques on behalf of the students. The payment is expected to cater for all the graduating students from both public and private secondary schools across Kogi senatorial district.