Ondo State Mandates Digital Payments, Bans Cash in Public Schools

The Ondo State Government has taken decisive action to address alleged financial misconduct in its public schools by prohibiting all cash transactions. This new policy, aimed at preventing extortion and the imposition of unauthorized levies on students, was unveiled by Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

During a recent meeting with executives from the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools in Akure, Professor Ajibefun announced the introduction of a dedicated digital payment gateway. This system will be the sole channel for all financial activities within public schools, ensuring meticulous documentation and transparency. He emphasized the government's commitment, stating, “To this end, we have put heads together to come up with a payment gateway and from now on, every payment will have to pass through the gateway, and we have placed a ban on cash payments.”

The Commissioner clarified that the primary objective of this initiative is to foster greater accountability and prevent school authorities from exploiting parents and students through illicit fees. The digital payment framework is set to become operational from the forthcoming academic session. School principals and other administrative staff have been sternly warned against directly collecting any funds from parents or students once the system is in place. Professor Ajibefun reiterated, “From the next session, we will not give room for anyone to deny any collection of illegal fees.”

The decision stems from numerous complaints received from parents during the previous academic session regarding illegal collections in various public schools. Following these reports, the Commissioner personally investigated the allegations, confirming that unauthorized fees were indeed being collected, reportedly with the involvement of school officials. These findings prompted the Ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and a technical team, to develop a traceable financial system.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has officially approved this initiative, ensuring that all funds processed through the digital platform will be accurately remitted to the respective school accounts. Professor Ajibefun expressed confidence that “the initiative would address existing abnormalities in the management of school finances.”

Dr. Akindele Ige, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, urged school bursars to collaborate effectively with other stakeholders to guarantee a comprehensive understanding and smooth implementation of the new payment system. Fisayo Fapounda, Chairman of the Association of Bursars of Secondary Schools, lauded the government's move, recognizing it as a progressive step towards enhancing financial transparency in educational institutions. He also appealed to the company managing the payment gateway to engage bursars in thorough training sessions to avoid any misinformation about the new system.