Saheed Ibrahim

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In order to boost education development and ensure the provision of quality education in Ondo State, the State Government yesterday launched an Education Endowment Levy.

A sum of N1,000 is to be paid by every taxable adult in the State annually as Education Levy.

Contributions are welcomed from individuals, groups, corporate organisations, international organisations and bodies.

The voluntary levy will be used to provide relevant instructional materials, improve the quality of education through capacity building, renovate dilapidated structures and improve the quality of education through capacity building.

The fund will also be used to provide scholarships to indigent students, improve teaching and learning in special schools (four in the State), promote sporting activities among the students, support adult literacy, provide functional libraries in schools, support research programmes, support teachers capacity development and support digital literacy, among others.

The government said payment can be made online via https://quickteller.com/ODIRS; bank transfer to Ondo State Education Endowment Fund, Zenith Bank 1010799809 or bank branch via Paydirect platform with Agency: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Agency Code: 051700100100; Revenue head: Education Endowment Levy and Revenue Code: 12030101.

The launching, which took place at the State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), was graced by members of the State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, Directors and members of the press, among others.

State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Femi Agagu, said OSEEF was established by Edict No 10 of 1990 to mobilise financial resources within and outside the State for rebuilding, revamping, general upgrading and repositioning of education in the State.

Agagu said Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu relaunched OSEEF on November 21, 2018, to expand the funding base of the Education Endowment Fund in the State.

“Accordingly, the fundamental conception is that the fund will have perpetual existence and that all and sundry within Ondo State and beyond will be encouraged and indeed urged to contribute to it according to their abilities and at all times as they feel able to do so.

“Contributions could be once and for all lump sums or periodic remittances of the standing-order type and international and national organisations and individuals within and outside Nigeria are welcome and strongly encouraged to contribute to the fund,” he explained.

Every taxable individual in the State is expected to pay a sum of 1,000 annually as an education levy, saying the ODIRS had been instructed to make the payment as easy as possible.

Speaking on the justifications for the Endowment Levy, Agagu said that the money would be used to finance 1,285 public primary schools, 308 public secondary schools, five public technical colleges, two public innovation centres, four special schools, three public universities, one polytechnic and one public college of health technology.

Also, the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, also disclosed that the fund would further enhance what the State Government can do regarding educational advancement.

He added that the OSEEF Board would source additional funds to promote education in the State, stating emphatically that the budget for education in the State is being effectively implemented.

While giving the payment methods, the ODIRS Chairman, Tolu Adegbie, said Ondo State has about 1 million taxable adults to pay 1,000 into the endowment fund, adding that this will provide additional resources to promote quality education in the State