All illegal structures in public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State will be demolished.
That was the position of the House of Assembly on Thursday.
Speaker of the House, Michael Adeyemo, said the lawmakers were in agreement with stakeholders in the education sector to restore sanity to public schools in the South-West state.
They frowned at the activities of land speculators and some people who have erected kiosks, churches, mosques, filling stations, markets and fast food joints within public schools, describing the encroachment as an affront.
A committee under the chairmanship of one of the lawmakers, Peter Oyetunji, was immediately set up to liaise with the state government and ensure immediate demolition of the structures.
The lawmakers had summoned various stakeholders in the education sector in the state to address Thursday’s plenary on how to make public primary and secondary schools in the state more conducive for learning.
Those who addressed the House included the Permanent Secretary in charge of School Administration, Mrs Olaitan Adeola, her colleague in charge of Ministry of Physical planning and Urban development, Mr. Busari Jelili, as well as that of Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mr. Wasiu Amoo and that of Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Yinka Osuntogun.
The representative of Association of Heads of Primary Schools in Nigeria (AOPSHON), Mr. J.O. Adewuyi also addressed the plenary.
From the submissions made by the stakeholders, the lawmakers were unanimous on the need for urgent steps by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to rescue public schools from the grips of encroachers to ensure conducive learning environment for students.
Among the schools affected were African Church Primary School, Saki in Saki West local government area of the state, Methodist Primary School at Bodija, Ibadan established in 1955, Islamic Mission School, Bode and C.A.C Primary School, Oje-Igosun, among others.
The House resolved that “the illegal structures must go, the fuel stations must go, the church, the mosque within the school premises must go. We must protect our schools and make their premises conducive to learning. There must be proper demarcation of boundaries of the schools”.
