Otti declares free education in Abia, to prosecute defaulting parents, guardians

The Governor Alex Otti-led administration has declared free and compulsory education for all children in Abia State regardless of their state of origin.

The free education programme, set to commence in January 2025, will be available to pupils from primary one to junior secondary school three in all public schools across the state.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during a press briefing after the State Executive Council meeting on Monday, November 11, 2024.

The Commissioner warned that parents and guardians who fail to enrol their children and wards in school would be prosecuted by the state.

“In line with the Abia Child’s Rights Law 2006, it’s now an offence for parents not to send their children or wards to school because the Government has made education free and compulsory,” Kanu warned.

Otti on a quest to deliver quality education

According to the Commissioner, the policy is in line with Governor Otti’s quest to deliver quality and affordable education in the state.

He also said there was no going back on the proposed relocation of the Law Faculty of the Abia State University, Umuahia campus, back to Uturu main campus, explaining that the decision was taken in the overall public interest.

At the same time, Kanu announced that contracts had been awarded for the rehabilitation of nine additional roads in different parts of Abia, and promised to make available details of the new road projects later.

In addition, he said the Otti’s government would attend to all issues arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The Commissioner further disclosed that the Governor had directed the Commissioner for Works to effect immediate repairs on the failed portion of the Osisioma ‘fly-over’ built by the immediate-past administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

While expressing regret over the state of the project, he said “The ‘fly-over’ which is the signature project of that administration has started failing within two years”.

For his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, noted that the opening on the ‘fly-over’ was widening and multiple, but “does not pose any immediate threat”.