Fayemi cancels Fayose’s education tax, restores free education

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has cancelled the education
development levy imposed on pupils of public and private schools by
former Governor Ayo Fayose.

Fayemi gave the order on Tuesday at the Ekiti North senatorial
town hall meeting held in Ido-Ekiti as part of activities to mark
his inauguration.

The governor declared free education in public primary and
secondary schools to give indigent children access to
education.

The Fayose regime imposed N1,000 on all pupils and students in
private and government-owned schools.

The imposition of the levy was challenged in court by Catholic
Diocese of Ekiti and is now before the Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti
Division.

Fayemi said free education was one of the cardinal policies of
his first administration describing education as a legacy that must
not go beyond the reach of the poor.

The governor advised candidates of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) who won at the last primaries to be magnanimous in victory
and carry the losers along ahead of the general elections.

He stressed that the winners are candidates of his party and not
his (Fayemi’s) candidates hence all hands must be on deck to ensure
their victory.

Fayemi also urged the people of the state to vote overwhelmingly
for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential
election.

The President, according to him, needs the votes of the Ekiti
electorate to return to office and consolidate on the gains
achieved during his first term.