Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), a Kwara-based Civil Society Organisation, has lambasted the Kwara State Government (KWSG) for the role it allegedly played in the sale of First Aid Box to public schools in the state at the rate of N20,000 per school.

In a tweet on its official Twitter Handle, ENetSuD said: “We are aware that KWSG “sold” first aid box to public schools in Kwara State at the rate of 20,000 naira. We shall ask KWSG to explain this extortion. We expect that provision of First Aid Box to Schools by KWSG should be FREE. Forcing the public schools to pay N20,000 for it is not acceptable and we need explanation.”

When asked the for the allegation evidence by its followers on Twitter, ENetSuD said that “Receipt for the payment were given to principals and headmasters of schools, but we shall not share such receipt so as to protect the school management from being punished by KWSG. How can KWSG that is warning public schools against illegal collection of fees from students also be exploiting the schools? Are the public schools learning this exploitation from KWSG? This is shameful!”

Commenting further, the Coordinator of ENetSuD, Dr. Alagbonsi Abdullateef, said through his Twitter: “We are aware of schools outside Ilorin that paid N22,000 for the box instead of N20,000. Though N20,000 receipt was issued, the remaining N2,000 was not documented”.

Responding to ENetSuD’s query on the matter, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said: “This is false information. No school was asked to pay to get first aid kit. Kwara State Government is not in the habit of charging its schools for services. We challenge you to proof. I just spoke to the Commissioner for Education. She denies your claim. Provide proof, if you have any.”

Accepting the challenge, ENetSuD eventually released a copy of the receipt issued to the schools after the payment.

ENetSuD has demanded further explanation from the State Commissioner for education, Dr. Femi Akorede, threatening to take legal steps to ensure that the State Government refunds all the money collected from schools if the explanation of the commissioner is not acceptable.

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