The Oyo State Government has firmly rejected claims that Governor Seyi Makinde’s education policy on free schooling has ended, describing recent allegations as false and reckless.
The response follows assertions by commentator Mufutau Gbadegesin, who alleged that school principals in Oyo State public schools were collecting unauthorised money from parents for junior secondary school documentation and examination results.
Refuting the claims, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Oyo State in a release reaffirmed that Seyi Makinde free education remains fully operational and designed to reduce the number of out-of-school children Nigeria struggles to educate.
For the avoidance of doubt, free education in Oyo State remains fully active and enforced. Since 2019, Governor Seyi Makinde has maintained an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child in the state has access to free and qualitative basic schooling. No public school is authorised to collect tuition or compulsory levies from students. Any principal found doing so is acting entirely outside government policy and will face swift disciplinary action.”
Fact-Checking Claims Against the Realities of Oyo State Public Schools
The government added that, “Critics who attempt to generalise isolated incidents into a sweeping conclusion are engaging in intellectual dishonesty. Such claims ignore official government directives, enforcement actions, and the substantial financial investments that continue to strengthen the state’s education policy. Crucially, these allegations disregard the lived daily reality of millions of local families whose children attend school every day without paying fees.
“Gbadegesin’s attempt to generalise isolated incidents -if they happened at all – into a sweeping conclusion is intellectually dishonest. His claim ignores official directives, enforcement actions, and the substantial investments that continue to strengthen the free education policy.
One of the clearest indicators that the system is thriving is the fact that no fewer than 75,000 out-of-school children have returned to classrooms across Oyo State since the policy was introduced. This major achievement is directly linked to removing financial barriers, expanding access, and restoring public confidence in state-run education. A system responsible for bringing tens of thousands of young learners back into classrooms cannot, by any stretch of logic, be described as ended or failing.”
How Seyi Makinde Free Education Delivers National Benchmarks
The Oyo State Government continued: “Beyond impressive enrolment gains, Oyo State’s progress in public education has received national recognition. Last year, the state was rated the most liveable in Nigeria, with access to quality learning cited as a major indicator in that assessment. This independent validation confirms that the government’s reforms are not only working, but are actively setting a clear benchmark for other Nigerian states to follow.
“Under Governor Makinde, the education policy has been reinforced through direct running grants to schools, free textbooks, learning materials, the recruitment of thousands of qualified teachers, and significant upgrades to physical infrastructure through OYOSUBEB and the Ministry of Education. These strategic interventions demonstrate an administration that is deepening its commitment to accessible learning, not abandoning it. The initiative continues to enjoy overwhelming support from parents, teachers, and community leaders who see its daily impact.
“In spite of attempts to twist the facts, the truth remains clear: Governor Seyi Makinde’s free education policy is not only intact but delivering results on a scale Oyo State has never witnessed.”
Protecting Public Education and Returning Out-of-School Children in Nigeria to Classrooms
Political commentary that distorts these facts presents a jaundiced view rather than an honest assessment of the state’s learning system. Such narratives do a grave disservice to the hardworking teachers, school administrators, and families who benefit from these free programmes every single day.
“Despite attempts to twist the facts, the truth remains obvious. The administration will continue to defend every child’s right to learn without financial barriers, enforce strict sanctions against unauthorised levies, and deepen reforms that have brought over 75,000 out-of-school children Nigeria tracks back into structured learning. The Government of Oyo State stands firm, resolute, and fully committed to protecting the integrity of its public services against political distortion.”
