Niger abolishes PTA levy

From John Adams Minna

Niger State governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has abolished the payment of Parent Teachers Association (PTA) levies in all public schools to encourage more enrollments of children into schools.

Bago said the government will take over payment of such levies to further reduce the burden on parents and increase the enrollment of children, especially the girl child into school.

Governor announced this at the headquarters of Munya Local Area in continuation of his statewide tour of ongoing projects, yesterday.

He warned headmasters and principals of public primary and secondary schools to stop further collection of PTA levies from any school child, assuring that anyone found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly.

The governor nonetheless urged parents to enroll their wards into school, especially the girl child, pointing out that school uniforms should not be an impediment to any children from going to school.

According to him, children can go to school with their personal dresses, not necessarily with school uniforms.

“Allow your children to go to school, school uniform should not be an impediment and any teacher that sends your child back home because of uniform, please report him, he will also be sent packing from the school.”

While inspecting some ongoing projects in the area, he expressed satisfaction with the performance of the various contractors and enjoined them to maintain standard and ensure timely completion of those projects.

Bago also promised to complete the Sarikin Pawa to Kaduna State road project which was started in 2002, construct a modern market, provide potable drinking water and primary healthcare centre among others.

Chairman, Munya local Council, Aminu Najumi and some political leaders from the area, including the Commissioner of Lands and Housing, Moses Magaji and Mr. Peter Sankara in their separate remarks, commended the governor for his people oriented projects in the area, describing his landmark achievements in office in the last one year and seven months as unprecedented.

They told the governor that the area was experiencing relatively peace now after years of banditry activities and commended him for providing enough security agents to protect life and property of the people