Osun govt bans illegal school levies, fixes approved fee at N500

The Osun State Government has banned the collection of unauthorised levies and illegal fees in public schools across the state.

The government has also warned principals and school authorities against imposing payments beyond the approved N500 Education Trust Levy per term.

The directive was issued through the Ministry of Education in a circular dated November 12, 2026, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr M. Jimoh.

The circular was addressed to executive secretaries, the President of the Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, the Chairman of AOPSHON, principals of public schools, headteachers of public primary schools and Parent-Teacher Associations.

The ministry said it had observed with concern the continued collection of unauthorised fees and levies from students and parents by some principals and school authorities.

It consequently reiterated that “the only approved fee payable in public schools is N500 as authorised by the state government.”

According to the circular, “any payment imposed on students or parents without the express approval of the Ministry of Education is illegal, regardless of its intended purpose or perceived importance.”

The ministry directed that no principal or school authority should impose or collect any levy outside the approved N500 without obtaining prior authorisation from the ministry.

It instructed that schools requiring additional financial contributions must formally write to the ministry, explaining the justification, purpose and proposed amount of the levy before obtaining approval.

The circular also stated that “no school-based decision, agreement with parents or endorsement by any stakeholder would constitute sufficient authority for introducing unauthorised payments.”

All principals were directed to ensure strict compliance with the directive and communicate its contents to relevant stakeholders, including teachers, parents and school management committees.

The ministry warned that it would not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary action against any principal or school authority found violating the government-approved financial regulations.

The directive comes amid allegations that some public secondary schools in Osun State have been charging parents between N12,000 and N24,000 per student despite the government’s approval of only an N500 Education Trust Levy per term.

Findings also indicated that parents were allegedly required to provide items including laundry baskets, dustpans, brooms, markers, canes, disinfectants and tissue paper.

Authorities of Osogbo Grammar School were also alleged to be collecting N24,000 per student without issuing receipts.