The Oyo State Government has firmly rejected what it described as a false and reckless assertion by Mufutau Gbadegesin, who alleged that school principals were collecting money from parents for the documentation of newly admitted Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) students and the collection of Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3) Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results. The government described as misleading his conclusion that Governor Seyi Makinde’s free education policy had ended, insisting that the claim distorts one of the administration’s major education policies and disregards its achievements across the state.
For the avoidance of doubt, the government stated that free education in Oyo State remains fully operational. Since 2019, Governor Makinde has maintained his commitment to ensuring that every child has access to free and quality education. According to the government, no public school is authorised to collect tuition fees or compulsory levies from students, and any principal found violating this directive will face disciplinary action.
The government faulted Gbadegesin’s attempt to generalise alleged isolated incidents, arguing that such claims cannot be used to conclude that the entire policy has been abandoned. It maintained that official directives, enforcement measures and continued investments in public education demonstrate the administration’s commitment to sustaining the programme. The government also noted that families across Oyo State continue to benefit from access to public education without paying tuition fees.
Highlighting the policy’s impact, the government stated that no fewer than 75,000 out-of-school children had returned to classrooms across the state since its introduction. It attributed the development to the removal of financial barriers, expanded access to education and renewed confidence in public schools. The government further cited national recognition of the state’s performance, stating that Oyo’s education reforms and investments in the sector had contributed to its progress.
The statement added that the administration had strengthened the policy through the provision of running grants to schools, textbooks and other learning materials, the recruitment of thousands of qualified teachers, and improvements to school infrastructure through the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) and the Ministry of Education. It maintained that these interventions reflected a continuing commitment to improving enrolment, teaching and learning outcomes across the state.
The government described Gbadegesin’s position as a politically motivated interpretation rather than an accurate assessment of the state’s education system. It insisted that the policy remained intact and continued to deliver results, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting pupils from unauthorised charges and ensuring that every child could access education without financial barriers. The government also warned that any school official found collecting unauthorised fees would face appropriate disciplinary action, adding that no criticism or political argument would deter the administration from sustaining its education reforms.
Signed:
Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju
Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Oyo State
October 10, 2026
