Ekiti may return missionaries schools to owners

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Ekiti State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose yesterday dropped the hint that missionaries primary and secondary schools in the state will soon be returned to their original owners.

The governor who spoke during a meeting with Ugbimo Ure Ekiti and some religious leaders in Ado Ekiti said most missionaries schools in the state are still keeping high standard, disclosing that the state may not have choice but to return others to them in order to improve the standard of education in the state.

Fayose, who also pleaded with the leaders to embrace the new tax regime in the state, urged them to sensitize their people on the reason why they should pay taxes to shore up the revenue accruing to the state.

Fayose disclosed that the available records show that schools being held by missionaries had consistently been leading in every public examination in recent past.

“In the last WAEC examinations, Holy Child, a school belonging to Catholic Church led in the State. In fact, many students scored A1 in all the subjects.

“Considering this and my stand to improve the standard of Education in Ekiti, I may not mind to return schools to missionaries. Though, it has not reached a policy stage but it is a good option we can consider”, Fayose said.

On the new tax regime that has generated so much furore among the populace, Fayose called on the professionals to continue to spread the gospel to the people on the need to increase the revenue in the State, so that infrastructural facilities can be put in place.

He said he would soon reach out to clerics in churches and Mosques on the need to sensitize their members to embrace the new reality, if truly they are committed to Ekiti development.

“A total of N900 million is being deducted from the allocation monthly. And a situation whereby our government is to be operating on a monthly allocation of a little over N1 billion calls for us to look inward and the new tax regime is one of our finest way to get out of this situation.

He said his administration is incurably committed to the construction of an ultra modern Oja Oba Market, Airport and fly over in Ado Ekiti the State capital, in spite of the paucity of funds confronting the State.

Source: TheGuardian