No More Free Education In Imo State For Non-indigenes

The Imo state government yesterday released a statement from the government officially announcing an end to the free education for non-indigenes in the state. According to the statement, the reason for the end to the free education policy is because indigenes of Imo state who are resident in other states in the federation are not enjoying free education from those states.
It should be noted that although the state claims that Education in the state owned tertiary institutions is totally free, in Imo state university, the indigenes pay N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) yearly called "Axillary fees" and the students have to rent accommodation outside the university. Such accommodation range from N70,000 to N150,000 for just a room.
Before the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration came to power, Imo state university students paid N53,500 school fees per session.

Here is the press release:


GOVERNMENT DROPS NON-INDIGENES FROM ITS FREE EDUCATION PROGRAMME
- CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING VERIFICATION OF STUDENTS
The Imo State Government has decided to drop non-indigenes especially in its University and other State owned tertiary Institutions in the State from its Free Education Programme and the reason being that, for the more than five years the free education programme has been on, non-indigenes have been benefitting from the lofty gesture without indigenes of the State enjoying similar programme in other States.

And against the backdrop of this development, the State government is at the moment undertaking the verification of Students in Imo State University and other State owned tertiary Institutions in the State and the verification exercise is aimed at making sure that bonafide indigenes of the State are identified to enable them continue to enjoy the free education programme that has become, not only a success story but somewhat a revolution.

The verification exercise is being Coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Sir George Eche. And the government has entrusted Sir Eche with such onerous responsibility to make the whole venture transparent and hitch-free.
To also ensure that the verification venture is thorough, forms are being issued to the Students which the traditional rulers of their various autonomous Communities and State Development Coordinators (SDC) of their respective wards would sign.

In the past five years, the government has spent over N40 billion naira in prosecuting the free Education programme which the opposition never believed was possible. But the huge success the programme has recorded has also made doubting Thomases to swallow their words.

Generally, the School enrolment in the State has snowballed to over 800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand) from the 280,000 (Two Hundred and Eight Thousand) it was in 2011.

To say the least, the outcome of the free education policy of the State Government has been wonderful. For instance, the Registrar/CEO of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede recently disclosed that for six consecutive years now, Imo State has continued to lead in JAMB applications and admissions with Delta State maintaining the second position. And the registrar concluded that the Free Education Programme in the State was the reason behind the feat.

And the governor has vowed not to take it lightly with any traditional ruler or State Development Coordinator who would compromise on the government’s intention for the verification exercise, with the governor also stating unequivocally that the free education programme in the State has come to stay, to the glory of God and in the overall interest of the State and her good people.

Sam Onwuemeodo
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor