By Kamil Opeyemi
The Oyo state government has issued a stern warning to head teachers to as a matter of importance desist from collecting illegal fees or any other misdeeds which are against the ethics of civil service in the state.
The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran gave the warning on Wednesday while pardoning some categories of workers who were found culpable of collecting illegal fees from pupils.
According to him, the decision of the government to pardon those found guilty was to show compassion to fellow human beings, especially at a time when economic difficulties in the country are biting hard on families of persons either on suspension, without jobs or at the risk of losing jobs.
He said other officers, identified with various irregularities according to the extant rules in the State Civil Service, have also been forgiven.
“The Board has pardoned the head-teachers caught collecting illegal fees in some Basic Schools, despite the recommendations of Disciplinary Panel,” Adeniran was quoted to have revealed this while speaking at the Board meeting in Ibadan
“OYOSUBEB set up a disciplinary committee to review the fate of some workers with issues. The committee came up with recommendations. However, in the spirit of the season, the Board has pardoned them.
“For those who have committed offences, we are all human beings, and because the times are very hard, the Board has decided to pardon them. Insha’Allah, we have pardoned the erring officers with different categories of offences and asked them not to try such misdeeds henceforth”, Adeniran added.
Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, who doubles as a Board member, Mr Raji Oladimeji.
Reacting, the NUT Chairman thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, while also appreciating the Oyo State Government for the implementation of promotional benefits of the state workers.