The Kogi House of Assembly has given a December 30 ultimatum to the state’s education ministry to pay N497.3 million in examination fees to the West African Examination Council.

The parliament wondered why the fund, already released by Governor Yahaya Bello, had yet to be paid to WAEC.

The speaker, Umar Yusuf, gave the ultimatum to the education commissioner, Wemi Jones, during a plenary on Thursday after Mr Jones cleared the air on the outstanding payment.

He said there was confusion caused by some school principals who were collecting WAEC fees and other levies despite the release of the funds by the Kogi government.

In November, Mr Bello announced the release of N497.3 million to pay the fees for 15,033 students across the 21 local government areas.

Mr Jones, who appeared before the lawmakers, confirmed the fund’s release but that the payment process was in progress.

“I hereby wish to inform this honourable house that the fund released by our caring governor is not missing but intact in the coffers of the ministry’s account,” stated Mr Jones. “I assure that very soon, it will reach WAEC before the closing date of January 28, 2024, and not to any principal or school.”

The commissioner warned principals and examination officers to stop asking students to pay for WAEC, PTA and other levies. According to him, education is free as far as Gov. Bello and Kogi are concerned.

Mr Jones revealed that the fee for WAEC in Kogi was N33,100 for 2024, warning private schools against charging more than that.

(NAN)