Ogun TESCOM Warns School Staff Against Collecting Unauthorized Fees, Vows Strict Sanctions

The Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has issued a strong warning to principals, vice principals, and teachers in public secondary schools to refrain from collecting any unauthorized fees from students.

TESCOM Chairman, Biodun Sanyaolu, made the statement during a televised interview in Abeokuta on Monday. He emphasized that any school official found guilty of such misconduct would face severe disciplinary action.

The warning follows the indefinite suspension of the principals of Ilugun High School, Elega—Mrs. Olukoga Adeyemi Alaba (Junior) and Mrs. Ladipo Olabisi Temitope (Senior)—after illegal fee collection sparked protests that tragically resulted in the death of a student last Tuesday, NIGERIA NEWS 247 reports.

Sanyaolu reiterated the commitment of Governor Abiodun’s administration to its free education policy, which guarantees that students in public schools should not pay any fees to access quality education. He highlighted that the current education reform forbids any form of levy in public primary and secondary schools.

The TESCOM chairman stressed that the government’s focus remains on delivering quality education and academic excellence, warning that any action undermining these goals would not be tolerated.

He encouraged teachers and school staff to use the whistleblower platform to report unethical practices, affirming TESCOM’s dedication to transparency and accountability in education across Ogun State.

On the new national curriculum recently introduced by the Federal Government, Sanyaolu confirmed that TESCOM, alongside the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and other agencies, is actively preparing for its smooth implementation.

He also noted efforts to ensure equitable teacher distribution across schools, with the addition of Ogun TEACh interns expected to strengthen the teaching workforce.

Finally, Sanyaolu praised school administrators, PTAs, and Old Students’ Associations for their cooperation and urged continued collaboration to maintain discipline among students.