Fees Racketeering: FCT Secondary Schools in trouble as group petitions ICPC

By Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

A civil rights group in the FCT has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged imposition of a levy on senior secondary school students in the territory, particularly those in SS1 and SS2.

The group, an Initiative for Citizens’ Rights, Accountability and Development (ICRAD) alleged that students were being compelled to pay N1,500 per session outside the official fees recognised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA for secondary schools.

The group under the umbralla of Initiative for Citizens’ Rights, Accountability and Development (ICRAD) in a petition letter alleged the affected students are being compelled to pay the sum of N1,500 per session outside the official fees recognised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA for secondary school students.

ICRAD Executive Director, Hassan Luqman, disclosed that the attention of the group was drawn to the obnoxious fees when it discovered that the payment was boycotting the Treasury Single Account platform of government, rather it was to be paid into a private account under Shokami Consulting Limited, Zenith Bank Account number 1014972989.

ICRAD said it is suspicious why students of public schools will be mandated to pay fees meant for part of their academic activities into a private company’s account.

The group, therefore urged the anti-graft agemcy to launch investigations into the fraud in order to avert a situation where parents, guardians or students from falling victims to the racketeering.

“It has come to our notice that the Senior Secondary School Students in the FCT, particularly those in SS1 and 2 are being forced to pay the sum of N1,500 per session outside the official fees recognised by the FCTA.

“This fee surreptitiously tied to School Management Systems, only allow the students to check their results online.

“Surprisingly is the fact that the fees is not paid into any of the recognised school account linked to government Treasury Single Account TSA, but into a private company’s account.

“Assuming without conceding that the said fee is for consulting services rendered to FCT secondary school board, it is the responsibility of the board to pay for consultancy under the Public Procurement Act and not the students.

“Imposing fees for consultancy services on parents, guardians and students is contrary to the fundamental principles of procurement which requires availability of budgetary allocations and funds for all procurements, including consultancy services as enshrined under section 16 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007,”the petition further noted.