Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has expressed strong opposition to the growing practice of imposing unjustified levies and material demands on parents in schools across the state.
The governor, aligning with other state leaders who have spoken out on the issue, said it was unacceptable for both public and private schools to compel parents to supply items such as soaps, brooms, tissues, and napkins as part of admission or enrolment requirements. He described such demands as exploitative, noting that many families are already grappling with the cost of providing basic education for their children.
“These practices are undue, wicked, and amount to forceful extortion,” Alia declared. “Parents who send their children to school in search of affordable education must not be subjected to unnecessary financial pressure.”
As part of his administration’s education sector reforms, Governor Alia announced a ban on lavish graduation parties, non-transferable textbooks, and extravagant requests from schools, especially at the kindergarten and nursery levels. He explained that school activities must reflect discipline, moral training, and academic value rather than encourage wasteful celebrations.
“This is not the time for unnecessary social events in schools when some parents struggle to pay fees or even provide meals for their children,” the governor said.
Alia stressed that many of the affected parents are widows and low-income earners, whom the government has a duty to protect. Through the state Ministry of Education, he has directed school proprietors, community leaders, and guardians to support measures that ease the burden on households while redirecting attention to true academic growth.
Some of the key policies introduced by the governor include:
Ban on unnecessary school parties and celebrations.
Approval for textbooks to be transferred and reused among siblings and peers.
Encouragement of extra-moral lessons, subject to parental approval.
Reintroduction of book-sharing culture in public tertiary institutions from the 2025/2026 academic year.
According to Alia, these reforms form part of his broader vision of raising disciplined, responsible, and academically sound young people who can provide effective leadership in the future.
Fr. Alia, who left priesthood duties to serve in politics, often draws inspiration from his humble beginnings and rural background. His leadership has consistently prioritized the needs of the poor and vulnerable, with policies geared toward education, security, and rural transformation.
Beyond education, his administration has been lauded for its community-focused projects and firm handling of security challenges, including the establishment of two new police area commands in Guma, Yelewata, Dauda, and Agan to respond to recurring violence in those areas.
In a recent cabinet reshuffle, Alia reinforced his commitment to accountability and youthful leadership by retaining only trusted hands and bringing in dynamic professionals such as Hon. Theresa Odachi Ikwue, Dr. Benjamin Ashaver, Dr. Margaret Ijaguwa, Dr. Peter Egboda, Hon. Dennis, and Dr. Paul Ejeh (Ogwuche), all of whom were screened and confirmed by the Benue State House of Assembly.
Governor Alia has continued to stand out as a vocal defender of families, a promoter of moral discipline in schools, and an advocate for peace and dignity in Benue State.
