Startiing from the first day of January, 2025, the Abia State Government will begin to prosecute parents in the state who fail to send their children and wards to school.
Announcing the decision at the Government House Umuahia while briefing Newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Abia State Executive council meeting, the Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu said that the issue of poverty is no longer a reason for non acquisition of basic education in Abia as there is now a functional free education programme in the State.
He advised parents to take advantage of the tuition- free policy in the state to send their children and wards to school, warning that defaulting parents would be prosecuted in line with the Abia State Child’s Law 2006.
” In line with the Abia State Child’s Law 2006, it will now be an offence for parents not to send their children and wards to school in Abia State.
“Education is free in Abia State up till the end of Junior Secondary School. There is no reason whatsoever why parents will not send their children to school, ” Prince Kanu noted.
The Commissioner used the forum to reiterate that the relocation order of the Umuahia campus of the Abia State University to the mother campus at Uturu remains irreversible.
“The State Government will implement this policy to the letter. However, as a listening government that conducts state affairs with human face, all affected stakeholders will be fully engaged to enable the State Government allay their fears and anxieties if any about the relocation order” , he assured.
On the issue of the implementation of the new minimum wage, Prince Kanu pointed out that Abia State Government would leave its doors open for the Organized Labour in the State to engage in further discussions as it concerns issues of the newly implemented minimum wage.
