Kogi Govt Threatens Sanctions Against Schools Sabotaging Annual Census »

The Kogi State Government has issued a stern warning to private schools in the state, cautioning them against any attempt to sabotage or resist participation in the 2024/2025 Annual School Census (ASC), saying such actions will attract sanctions, including possible closure.

This warning was issued by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, during the flag-off of a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting held on Wednesday in Lokoja, aimed at preparing the ground for a successful school census exercise across the state.

Hon. Jones stressed that the census is a vital process for planning, data gathering, and ensuring the equitable distribution of educational resources. He emphasized that full participation by all schools, both public and private, is mandatory, warning that the state government will not tolerate non-compliance.

“Any private school that refuses to cooperate with the enumerators will face stiff sanctions, including a Two Hundred thousand Naira fine or the risk of being shut down,” the Commissioner warned. “The aim of this census is not punitive, it is to ensure that all schools are captured in the government’s development plans, including those related to the free education policy.”

He further explained that the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led administration is committed to data-driven governance in the education sector, adding that accurate information from schools will guide proper planning and targeted interventions.

The Commissioner also clarified that all census forms are provided free of charge and called on school owners not to misinterpret the exercise as a government intrusion, but rather a collaborative effort to strengthen education across the state.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Abdullahi Abdulmalik, described the census as a timely initiative that will provide reliable, real-time data for educational planning and policy implementation. He encouraged stakeholders to cooperate fully for the success of the exercise.

In her technical presentation, the Director of Educational Research, Planning and Statistics in the ministry, Dr. Animoku Elizabeth, outlined the scope of the census, which includes data on learners’ enrollment, teacher qualifications, training records, and availability of learning resources. She identified common challenges such as misinformation and poor sensitization but assured that the government has provided digital tools for a seamless and transparent process.

Other speakers at the event, including the Chairman of the Forum of Senior Special Assistants to the Governor, Hon. Joe Best Omeiza, Chairman of the association of private secondary schools proprietors, Pastor Reuben Jimoh, and the Chairperson of the Kogi State Senior Secondary School Education Board, commended the ministry’s efforts and pledged their support for a successful census.

The sensitization meeting marks the beginning of a statewide effort to ensure comprehensive data collection from all schools as Kogi State intensifies efforts to improve its education system through informed planning and inclusive policy implementation.