Taraba Begins Investigation Of Alleged Non-Compliance With 50% School Fees Reduction Directive

 The Taraba State Government has inaugurated a committee to investigate alleged non-compliance with its directive on the 50 per cent reduction of school fees in tertiary institutions across the state.

The committee was inaugurated at the Ministry of Tertiary Education in Jalingo, with a specific mandate to examine the implementation of the fee reduction directive, particularly at the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Jalingo.

Speaking during the inauguration, the Head of Service, Dr Hamidu Kara, said Governor Agbu Kefas had directed the Ministry of Tertiary Education to constitute the committee following reports of possible non-compliance with the government's policy.

He said the committee was expected to establish the facts surrounding the implementation of the directive and determine whether students and parents were being charged in line with the government's approved reduction.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio Jen, said education remained a major priority of the Kefas administration.

According to him, the administration had introduced free education at the primary and secondary school levels, while also reducing fees in tertiary institutions as part of efforts to ease the financial burden on parents and students.

Dio Jen said the government had received reports alleging that the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Jalingo, might not have complied with the directive to reduce school fees by 50 per cent.

He described the alleged non-compliance as unacceptable, stressing that government directives must be respected and implemented by institutions under its authority.

The commissioner said the members of the committee were carefully selected based on their integrity, competence and commitment to duty, expressing confidence that they would conduct the assignment objectively.

The Chairman of the committee, Professor Musa Gani of the Federal University Wukari, appreciated the ministry for finding the members worthy of the responsibility.

He assured the government that the committee would carry out its assignment diligently, objectively and in accordance with the law.

The committee is expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged failure to implement the 50 per cent fee reduction and submit its findings to the appropriate authorities for further action.

The development comes as the state government continues to push its education reforms aimed at reducing the financial burden on families and improving access to education across Taraba State.